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Arms, ammunition recovered in Lalgarh

Raktima Bose

KOLKATA: In a major recovery — one of the biggest in recent times — security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, and arrested a person suspected to have treated Maoist leader Kishanji, following raids at several rebel hideouts in the Lalgarh region of Paschim Medinipur district since late Tuesday.

Of the recovered firearms, an AK-47 has been identified as one of many such weapons looted from the armoury at the Silda camp on February 15, when the Left-wing extremists massacred 24 jawans of the Eastern Frontier Rifles.

Following the fierce exchange of fire between security forces and Maoists on March 25 and the emergence of conflicting reports about Kishanji's injuries or death due to a bullet injury, security personnel have been detaining and interrogating several doctors in the region to find out if anyone treated him.

Detained earlier

Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Verma told TheHindu on Thursday that Jawaharlal Mahato was detained on a similar suspicion a few days back and was arrested during the day.

“Though Mahato is just a Class 8 dropout, he used to treat villagers. He was a fake doctor. He was, however, arrested several times in the past for his involvement in Maoist activities,” Mr. Verma said, but refused to elaborate on whether Mr. Mahato had confessed to having treated Kishanji.

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