Himalayan News Service

Kolkata, July 10:

Three Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leaders were shot dead in twin strikes by Maoist rebels in two south Bengal districts, police said today. The attacks took place yesterday in Purulia and Bankura districts. A policeman was killed and 16 other policemen injured when a bomb exploded in Bankura after the attack. Police said the two CPI-M district leaders — Raghunath Murmu and Bablu Mudi — from Majgeria were returning home around 8 pm when they were gunned down. When police reached the spot, a bomb left behind by the Maoists exploded, killing Probal Sengupta, officer-in-charge of Barikul police station. About the same time, CPI-M leader Mahendra Mahato was shot dead in the Purulia district at his residence by Maoists. Police have launched a massive combing operation in the two districts. Meanwhile, China-made arms have been recovered in Chhattisgarh from Maoist guerrillas pointing to their foreign connections, a senior minister said today. State Home Minister Ramvichar Netam said police had recovered China-made arms from the Maoist ultras in a village of Balrampur area, Surguja. Police engaged the rebels in a gun battle on Friday and arrested five Naxals besides recovering a huge cache of arms, Netam said. The arms including AK-47 rifles, detonators, pistols and live cartridges bore Chinese-made marks.