Maoist couple arrested

In a major breakthrough the Special Task Force of the Kolkata Police arrested Maoist leader Bikash and his wife Tara, who were close aides of their slain leader Kishenji.

Vishal Garg, Joint Commissioner of police (STF) said Bikash alias Manasharam Hembram and his wife Tara alias Thakurmoni Hembram were arrested from  Maidan area on Saturday afternoon. They will be produced before the court on Sunday and police will be praying for their custody before the court.

A 7.62 mm pistol, two magazines, nine live cartridges, Maoist literature and a letter written in tribal language were recovered from them.

Police came to know after arresting them that the Maoist couple had been staying in a rented house at Mogra in Hooghly. Police conducted a raid in the house and found one AK-47 riffle and 120 bullets.

Sources said that Bikash was the member of the West Bengal State Committee and secretary of the state military committee of the Maoists. While his wife had headed the women squad for many years in districts including West Midnapore and Purulia. 

Both Bikash and Tara came in touch with the Maoist leader Sashadhar Mahato when they were holding agitation under the banner of People’s Committee against Police Atrocities. 

Later, they came in touch with Kishenji and underwent guerrilla warfare training. Both of them were involved in incidents including EFR camp attack at Silda and abduction of the officer-in-charge of Sankrail Police Station.