Maoist central committee leader,Kishenji aide held

In a major breakthrough,the Kolkata Police Special Task Force STF has arrested five senior Maoist leaders from several places in and around the city.

In a major breakthrough,the Kolkata Police Special Task Force STF has arrested five senior Maoist leaders from several places in and around the city. Among those arrested are Sudip Chongdar,central committee member and state secretary of the CPIMaoist,and Kalpana Maity,a senior woman leader who is said to be a close aide of Kishenji.

According to reports,the STF acted on a tip-off that several top Maoist leaders were converging on the outskirts of the city for a meeting. A couple of other Maoists are reported to have escaped the police trap.

Speaking to newspersons,Rajeev Kumar,Additional Police Commissioner,STF,said: Sudip Chongdar alias Kanchan,state secretary of the CPIMaoist,his close associates and state committee members Anil Ghosh alias Ajoyda and Barun Sur alias Bidyut,and a supporter,Bimal Ghosh alias Shankar,were arrested on Friday night from the Maidan area in central Kolkata. After interrogating them,we arrested another state committee member and wife of Ashim Mondal,Anu alias Kalpana Maity,from Howrah station today.

He added: Our raids are still on in the outskirts of Kolkata and adjacent districts. We have seized several documents and electronic gadgets used by the Maoists. The seized material include improvised rocket launchers and communication devices.

According to sources,the Maoist leaders were scheduled to hold a meeting on the outskirts of the city to discuss the Rajarhat land issue. Police had been receiving intelligence inputs about Maoists groups zeroing in on Rajarhat in the past couple of weeks.

While Kumar claimed that Chongdar and his associates were arrested from Maidan area in central Kolkata,sources said the central committee member and one of his associates were picked up from Rajarhat.

Silda attack: Maoist held

Kolkata: A Maoist squad leader,Kajol Mahto,alleged to have taken part in the raid on the Eastern Frontier Rifles camp at Silda in West Midnapore district on February 15 this year which left 24 securitymen dead,was arrested from Pathartuntuni in Salboni police station area on Friday.PTI