Top Maoist leader held in Jungle Mahal

In a prize catch, joint forces have arrested top Maoist leader Bikram, who was wanted for a string of killings including that of a CID inspector and two political leaders, from Purulia district.

The police had information that Bikram alias Arnab Dam would be present at Biramdih Railway Station on Monday night, Deputy Inspector General (Midnapore Range) N K Meena and Superintendent of Police C Sudhakar told a joint press conference on Tuesday.

The joint forces, comprising Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action personnel, besides policemen from the Baghmundi and Balarampur police stations, surrounded the railway station and arrested Bikram at 11 pm on Monday, they said.

An AK-47 assault rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition and two spent cartridges were seized from the Maoist leader of the Ayodhya Squad, the two senior police officers said.

Bikram, who was a member of the Bengal Jharkhand Regional Committee and the State Committee of Communist Party of India -Maoists, was wanted for a string of killings, including that of CID inspector Partha Biswas and his school teacher friend Saumyajit Basu in October 2010.

He was also wanted for the killing of Communist Party of India - Marxist leader Ajit Singh and his son Bapi last October at Balarampur and Trinamool Congress leader Jitu Singh Sardar last November.

After the death of top Maoist leader Kishenji last year, Bikram was considered an important leader of the rebels.