CPI-M leader shot dead by Maoists in Bengal

A Communist Party of India - Marxist leader was shot dead by suspected Maoists at Barikul in Bankura on Saturday. Rameshwar Murmu, the local committee secretary of CPI-M, was forcibly taken away from his residence at Bhulagara in the wee hours of Saturday by an armed group of 15 men, who pushed aside his wife and son, saying Murmu deserved to be killed for his 'anti-people activities'.

Soon, the family heard gunshots and Murmu's body was recovered by security forces from a nearby jungle. Police suspect that Maoists could be behind the attack but the identity of the attackers was still being probed.

Four political activists, three of them from CPI-M and one from Jharkhand Party (Aditya), were killed and another suffered bullet injuries in Maoist attacks in neighbouring West Midnapore district earlier this week.

While one JP supporter was killed in Belpahari area, his companion was shot at and injured at Patharchakra in West Midnapore, police said.

The Maoists on December 23 shot dead three CPI-M activists, including a teacher, near Lalgarh and Salboni areas in West Midnapore.

The Maoists are active in forested pockets of the three districts, known as 'junglemahal', despite the presence of security forces.