Sunil Kisku, trainer of Maoists’ Ayodhya squad, was arrested by the police in Purulia on Wednesday. He has been accused of murdering CPM leader Ravi Kar and his wife in Bandwan in 2004.

The arrest is being hailed as a major success for the security forces as the police had been looking for Kisku for the last five years.

Acting on a specific tip-off, the police raided Kisku’s house at Bakdoba in Belpahari block in West Midnapore.

According to the police, Kisku also allegedly played an active role in the murder of Trinamool leader Nishikanta Mondal in Nandigram.

The Director General of Police, Bhupindar Singh, said that the carbine, which was stolen from Ravi Kar’s security guards, was found near the spot where Nishikanta Mondal was killed.

“From this evidence, it can be said that Kisku had a connection with the murder of Nishikanto Mondal. We are looking into the matter,” Singh added.

The police also seized a pipegun from Kisku’s residence.

On December 31, 2004, Sunil Kisku and his squad members attacked the residence of Kar in Purulia and set his house on fire. Kar and his wife were shot dead.

“We have arrested him under the Arms Act, conspiracy to murder and sedition,” said Manoj Verma, the Superintendent of Police (West Midnapore).

Later in the day, Kisku was produced in the ACJM court in Jhargram, where he was remanded in police custody for five days.

Sukhshanti Baskey, the treasurer of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities was also produced in the court.

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