Maoist killed in encounter with security forces in West Bengal

A Maoist was killed when security personnel, who went to rescue a teacher kidnapped from neighbouring Bankura district, were fired upon by ultras at a forest near Lalgarh in West Midnapore district today, police sources said.

The Maoist identified as Gurcharan Hembram was killed in the encounter at the Bhalukbasa forest in West Midnapore district, superintendent of police, Bankura Vishal Garg said.
   
Acting on a tip-off that the abducted teacher and CPI-M leader Ranjit Duley had been taken to the Bhalukbasa forest, security forces surrounded the Maoists at Goaltore, the sources said.
   
The Maoists have demanded the release of six of their cadre arrested following the killing of Sarenga police station in-charge Rabi Lochan Mitra on February 25.

Earlier in October 2009, the Maoists had used the same tactics by kidnapping and releasing the Officer-in-Charge, Sankrail, Atindranath Dutta in West Midnapore after a dozen arrested women Maoists sympathisers whose release was demanded, were freed.

The Maoists had abducted Duley from Barulia Madhyamik Siksha Kendra in Sarenga area on March 5 at gun-point when he was invigilating the secondary examination.

All police stations, outposts and camps of security forces at Belpahari and Jhargram have been alerted to prevent the Maoists from fleeing to Jharkhand, the sources said.