Maoists blow up house of CPM man in Lalgarh

According to police sources,a 10-member group of Maoists led by Rakhal attacked the house of Shibu who managed to flee from the back door of his house. However,the Maoists held his mother,Lakkhipriya,at the point blank range and took her a few meters away from the house. Lakkhipriya later told police that they blew their house with the help of mines.

A senior police official said,“A few days ago,there was a meeting conducted by the CPM at neighbouring Goaltore village. Shibu motivated the villagers of Shaluka to join the meeting and his mother also took part in it. So the Maoists took the revenge.”

In another incident,police today picked up Hopna Soren and Sombari Tudu from Lakkhanpur forest near Salboni. Both of them were involved in the Silda massacre of February 15,2009 in which 24 EFR jawans were killed by Maoists,according to Manoj Verma,SP,West Midnapore.

Meanwhile,after getting a specific tip off ,the police raided the Birhandi forest,eight km from Jhargram town.

A senior police official said,“We had information that a Maoists squad of nine members led by Jayanta alias Sahebram Hembram was hiding there. They were training the local youths. Around 1 pm,we raided the forest. After an exchange of fire,they fled from the spot.”

Later,police seized 75 rounds of live cartridges of weapons like AK 47 and SLR,other weapons,several documents,12 gelatin sticks and Rs 50,000 cash.

Praveen Tripathi,SP,Jhargram said: “We have seized ammunition of several sophisticated weapons. Some of the Maoists cadres received bullet injuries. We are conducting search operations in the area.”