No evidence of Mahasweta, Aparna Sen's Maoist links: WB

The West Bengal government clarified on Tuesday that there was no evidence that writer Mahasweta Devi and film-maker Aparna Sen having Maoist links, a day after saying that those having Maoist connections would be questioned. "There is obviously no evidence of their links with Maoists. Otherwise, they would have been arrested," Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told newsmen when asked whether there was proof of Maoist connections against Mahasweta Devi or Aparna Sen.

In a reply to a question, he said there was no evidence yet that Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities leader Chattradhar Mahato, who was being prosecuted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, was a Maoist. "The PCPA, however, was functioning almost as a front organisation of Maoists," he said, but there was no report that it had received foreign funds.

Stating that Maoist leader Kishenji alias Koteswar Rao would also be arrested, Sen admitted that it would prove to be a more difficult exercise. He also said there was 'enough evidence' to proceed against Raja Sarkhel and Prasun Chatterjee, the human rights activists who were arrested last night from the Jadavpur area here on charges of having links with Maoists and the PCPA.