Suspect Arnab rose rapidly through ranks

Arnab is a member of Bengal Jharkhand Regional Committee and a member of the State Committee of the CPI-Maoists. He used to be a member of the PDSF,a student union of the faction of the Second Central Committee formed by Mahadeb Mukherjee,a senior Naxal leader. In 2006,the CPI-Maoists merged with PDSF,after which Arnab joined the Maoists in Junglemahal.

He left home in 2006 and started operating in the Purulia-Ayodhya-Dalma region since. Within four years,he rose to the position of a regional committee member owing to his commitment and capacity to evolve strategies.

The Ayodhya squad comprises 12 PLGA members. The other squads operating in the area are Balarampur Squad and Bandwan squad.

The Maoists have been shifting base to the bordering areas of Purulia-Jharkhand over the last few months,especially since Mamata Banerjee held a meeting in Lalgarh and intensified her demand to withdraw the Central forces from West Midnapore,claiming that Maoists have left the state.

Security analysts say it is a planned shift. The Ayodhya squad has reportedly been instructed to carry out operations in the region while Maoists in Lalgarh-Jhargram tribal belt have been asked to lie low to strengthen the demand for withdrawal of forces from Lalgarh.