Top Maoist leader nabbed by joint forces from Junglemahal

PURULIA, WEST BENGAL: In a prize catch, joint forces arrested top Maoist squad 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, 15 km from Purulia town, last night, DIG (Midnapore Range) N K Meena and Superintendent of Police C Sudhakar told a joint press conference here today.

The joint forces, comprising CRPF, CISF and CoBRA personnel, besides policemen from the Baghmundi and Balarampur police stations led by the SP surrounded the railway station and arrested Bikram at 11:00 PM last night, 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 also member of the Bengal Jharkhand Regional Committee and the State Committee of CPI-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 in the district.

He was also wanted for the killing of CPI(M) leader Ajit Singh and his son Bapi last October at Balarampur and Trinamool Congress leader Jitu Singh Sardar last November in the same area.

Bikram, a science graduate, who left home in in 2006, was a member of the PDSF, a student union of a naxalite faction of the Second Central Committee formed by senior leader Mahadeb Mukherjee.He later joined the left wing ultras when the PDSF merged with CPI-Maoists.

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