Four Maoists arrested in West Bengal

Purlia (West Bengal), Aug.12 (ANI): A joint team of police and paramilitary forces has arrested four Maoists in West Bengal.

The arrests were made on Thursday from different places while carrying out routine search operations by the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Purlia town of West Bengal. .

"Our operation is on since day before yesterday and it is still on, they were arrested from different places at different times," said Rajesh Kumar Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Purulia

Paramilitary forces like state police Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Vahini, CRPF 167 battalion participated in the operation and still working further.

All the nabbed Maoists are in their late twenties and later identified as Anandakumer alias Anand Mahato, Bhabataron Mahato alias Tiger, Gobordhan Mura, Umacharan Mahato and Mansaram Mandi.

"Along with police, CRPF Cobra Vahini, CRPF 167 battalion participated in the operation," said Yadav.

Literature, handouts and mobile phones along with two pens were also recovered from the Maoists hideout.

The Maoists have spread into the rural pockets of 20 of India's 28 states.

The Maoists have been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the country's biggest internal security threat. They say they are crusading against the prevailing political system, upholding the cause of the poor and marginal farmers and landless labourers.

The movement started as a peasant revolt in Naxalbari village in West Bengal state in 1967, giving the name Naxalism to their movement and Naxalites to the cadres. (ANI)