Rano
VIP
Kolkata, July 7
The CBI team probing the Maoist attack on Gyaneshwari Express resulting in its derailment and the death of 148 passengers on May 27, has found that the operation was masterminded by Sashadhar Mahato, younger brother of People’s Committee against Police Action (PCPA) president Chhatradhar Mahato.
The police said that Sashadhar was the area commander of the Maoists in the vast Lalghar-Jangalmahal-Salboni areas in west Midnapore. He was wanted for several crimes in Purulia, Bankura and Midnapore and Jharkhand. So far, police have no clue about his whereabouts. After the May 27 operation, Sashadhar has been spotted only once, with his wife, at Binpur village, said the CBI.
The CBI said that the operation was executed by Bapi Mahato and 20-odd PCPA activists. Bapi and seven other accused have already been arrested, but Sashardhar and two other prime accused — Ashit Mahato and Umakanto Mahato — are still at large. Today, two more PCPA activists, Bijoy Mahato and Manick Mahato, were arrested from Baripada and Mayurbhanj in Orissa.
According to CBI findings, the PCPA was mainly behind the train sabotage near Jhargram.
Director General of Police Bhupender Singh said that the CBI report had corroborated the CID’s report, which had been already sent to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
The CBI team probing the Maoist attack on Gyaneshwari Express resulting in its derailment and the death of 148 passengers on May 27, has found that the operation was masterminded by Sashadhar Mahato, younger brother of People’s Committee against Police Action (PCPA) president Chhatradhar Mahato.
The police said that Sashadhar was the area commander of the Maoists in the vast Lalghar-Jangalmahal-Salboni areas in west Midnapore. He was wanted for several crimes in Purulia, Bankura and Midnapore and Jharkhand. So far, police have no clue about his whereabouts. After the May 27 operation, Sashadhar has been spotted only once, with his wife, at Binpur village, said the CBI.
The CBI said that the operation was executed by Bapi Mahato and 20-odd PCPA activists. Bapi and seven other accused have already been arrested, but Sashardhar and two other prime accused — Ashit Mahato and Umakanto Mahato — are still at large. Today, two more PCPA activists, Bijoy Mahato and Manick Mahato, were arrested from Baripada and Mayurbhanj in Orissa.
According to CBI findings, the PCPA was mainly behind the train sabotage near Jhargram.
Director General of Police Bhupender Singh said that the CBI report had corroborated the CID’s report, which had been already sent to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
