Huge recoveries from Junglemahal after questioning arrested Maoist leaders

KOLKATA: The questioning of arrested Maoist leader Bikash and his Tara has led cops to recover several new weapons and a huge amount of explosives from Jhargram’s jungles. The STF – that had been questioning them for several days before they finally expired their custody period – said that the recoveries were made with the help of joint forces and the Binpur police.
Among the items recovered during the raids at Jhargram’s jungles – from near the canal cutting through Burishol and Kusboni – are one AK-47 rifle, three countery made single shotters, one pistol, 35 cartridges and some 300 bore catridges.In addition several other cartridges of 7.64 bore were also recovered. However, most importantly, six kilogrammes of explosives, 10 detonators and several incriminating Maoist literature too were recovered.
The recoveries are in addition to the recoveries made from Hooghly’s Chaparui near Mogra where the two accused were hiding after the encounter of Kishanji. STF sources said they have new leads on the Silda camp massacre but said they would like to work on the lead with the intelligence agencies. It is the same Burisole jungles where Maoist leader Kishenji’s alleged encounter took place.
The two accused are now likely to be taken in to custody by other agencies for questioning.
Police say Sitaram Bhaiji alias Proloy is now handling Maoist activities in Bengal and are questioning Bikash and Tara for information on other rebel leaders like Madan Mahato and the squads led by Jayanto and Ranjit Pal. Sources said the joint forces have been alerted that these fugitives may be hiding in Burishole and Kashi jungles.
Though Bikash is wanted in several cases — including attacks on central forces, police and villagers in Sankrail, Goaltore, Lalgarh and Sarenga — it is believed that the weapon could be one of the nine AK-47 and Insas rifles looted during the attack on Silda camp of Eastern Frontier Rifles in February 2010 in which 24 personnel were killed. Bikash is likely to be named as one of the main accused in that case, too.