suspected Moaists kill CPI(M) leader in Bengal

Midnapur, May 27 (UNI) A local CPI(M) leader was gunned down by four masked men in this Maoist belt district of West Bengal last night, police said today.

The gunmen after alighting from a private car fired indiscriminately on some CPI(M) men killing local leader Snehasis Das on the spot at Joynagar village under Lalgarh police station.

As his two associates Muchiram Chalak and Timir Dhal chased the attackers, the latter also shot at them before fleeing into the nearby Lalgarh forest.

Condition of Muchiram, who was admitted to Jhargram hospital, was stated to be critical. The CPI(M) men were taking tea at a roadside stall when the Maoist gunmen barged on them.

West Midnapur district Superintendent of police Ajoy Nanda said the Maoists were behind the attack.

A large police contingent rushed from district headquarters and launched a massive combing operation to flush out the gunmen. But no one had been arrested so far, Mr Nanda added.

Meanwhile, a 12-hour bandh called by the CPM to protest the incident was observed in Lalgarh block area.

District CPM secretary Dipak Sarkar alleged a nexus between the Maoist, Jharkhand Party and Trinamool Congress behind the killing.

The fear that Maoist can strike back after the elections turned true, added he.

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