Top Maoist leader killed in West Midnapore encounter

Midnapur, Mar 11: A top ranking Maoist leader Sasadhar Mahato was killed in an encounter with joint forces near the Jamboni Forest in West Midnapur District last night.

Acting on a tip off, joint team of local police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) surrounded an area in Kapgari Forest, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Jamboni police station and started combing operations.

"Sasadhar Mahato has been killed in an encounter and one AK 47 rifle has been recovered from him at Binpur under Jhargram police station," said IG (CRPF), TB Rao.

Rao said one person was arrested, but did not reveal his identity. He said the encounter and search operation is still on.

Mahato, the brother of imprisoned PCPA convenor Chattradhar Mahato, is suspected to have been behind major Maoist attacks in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore Districts and has been linked to the Jnaneswari train accident.

Mahato is also considered the mastermind behind the attack on a Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) camp at Silda in West Midnapore District.

ANI