Maoist leader Manoj Mahto arrested

People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) leader Manoj Mahto, who was released on bail just prior to the West Bengal assembly elections in May, was arrested today from his home in West Midnapore district.

Mahto, a leader of a platform which had campaigned for Maoist-backed PCPA chief Chhatradhar Mahto, was arrested from his home at Birkar village in the Lalgarh police station limits, police said.

The charge against Mahto, who had launched the Durniti Santras O Agraasan Birodhi Ganatantrik Manch before the polls, was the abduction of a CPI(M) leader.

Mahto, who was charged with sedition and had been arrested last year in September, was released on bail just before the assembly elections.