NIA arrests TMC leader Chhatradhar Mahato in 2009 murder case

The National Investigation Agency arrested Trinamool Congress leader Chhatradhar Mahato in connection with a 2009 murder soon after he cast his vote in Lalgarh in the first phase of polling in West Bengal, an NIA official said on Sunday.

Mahato, former convenor of Maoists-backed People Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), was nabbed from his residence in Jhargram district by a team of 40-45 NIA personnel late on Saturday. “He was arrested in connection with the 2009 killing of CPM leader Prabir Mahato,” the official said. “He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.”

Mahato was to be produced at a city court later in the day, the person said. The Calcutta High Court had re cently directed Mahato to appear before the NIA thrice a week to assist it in investigation of the case. Mahato, 50, had earlier served a 10-year sentence for his involvement in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Salboni in 2008, aimed at a convoy of then West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan.


Mahato was a key campaigner for Trinamool in the first phase of polls, reaching out to the Mahatos and STs in the Junglemahal region of the state where BJP had made deep inroads in 2019, winning all five parliamentary seats. Polling in 20 seats of Junglemahal was held on Saturday. Mahato was actively campaigning for chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her schemes in Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura and other parts of the SC-ST dominated Jangalmahal. His campaign was focused on popularising Banerjee’s respect for ‘Jal, Jangal (water, jungles)’ and ‘jaminer adhikaar’ (land rights) and lashing out at BJP, alleging the party was exploitative of tribal rights.

BJP had alleged that Trinamool, by roping in Mahato, was “playing with fire” and giving an opportunity for Naxal activity to flourish in the state again. BJP leaders had also accused Mahato of intimidating the SC/ST voters of the region, and not allowing them to take part in any BJP event.

Once the face of the Maoists-backed tribal movement in Lalgarh, Mahato shared dais with Banerjee in 2009 when Trinamool backed the anti-Left movement in the Jangalmahal area. During his arrest, 57-year-old Mahato’s family refused to sign any document served by the agency, sources said.

His lawyer Kaushik Sinha later released a video message saying Mahato was not even allowed any time to get ready. He alleged that the procedure of arrest adopted by NIA was not justified according to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.