Maoist commander held

A senior Maoist commander was arrested from Salboni area in West Midnapore district on Friday. “We have arrested Saonta,who is the commander of Lalgarh-Salboni area. We have arrested three more Maoists and recovered an AK-47,a carbine and three INSAS rifles from their possession,” said Praveen Tripathi,SP,West Midnapore.

Saonta alias Suman Maity used to operate in Salboni and Kotwali area. Police have also arrested Uttam Mahato,Binay Mahato and Shyampada Mahato. The trio are members of “village defence squad”. According to sources,Shyamapada gave shelter to Suman Maity in Kalsibhanga village.

After a two-day-long operation,police have also seized 76 kilos of explosives and 13 directional mines. Significantly,three INSAS rifles recovered were those that were looted from the Silda camp in last year. ENS