New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Trinamool Congress leader in West Bengal in connection with the murder of a CPI (M) leader. Chhatradhar Mahato, a member of the Trinamool Congress state committee, was arrested. The accused was arrested by a 40-member NIA team at Mahato’s residence in Lalgarh in the Jhargram district. He was arrested in connection with the 2009 murder of CPI (M) leader Prabir Ghosh. He was shifted to Kolkata to appear in court in the afternoon. The NIA is investigating multiple cases against Mahato.
The arrests came shortly after the completion of the first phase of the elections. Local Trinamool leaders alleged that Mahato, who was sleeping at home, was forcibly arrested by the NIA. Meanwhile, a policeman was injured. Mahato was the leader of the Maoist-affiliated People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA). He was earlier arrested in connection with the murder of Prabir Ghosh. Shortly afterward, the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express was raided by Maoists demanding the release of Mahato. The case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
A Kolkata court had earlier ordered him to appear before the NIA three days a week for questioning. The court also ruled that the NIA had the power to detain anyone who violated it. He was arrested for failing to appear. He was also arrested in 2008 for plotting to assassinate former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s security personnel. His brother Sasadhar Mahato was also implicated in the attempted murder case. Chhatradhar Mahato, who was arrested in 2009, was released in February 2020 after serving his sentence. He later joined the Trinamool Congress and was made the secretary of the party’s state committee.
