Maoists claim responsibility for murder of Trinamool leader

The Maoists have claimed responsibility for the murder of Trinamool Congress leader Nishikanta Mondal in Nandigram on September 22, alleging he was a police informer.

Underground Maoist leader Kishenji told PTI from an undisclosed location that Mondal, panchayat pradhan at Sonachura in Nandigram, was eliminated because he was a Trinamool leader and worked as a police informer.

"We have our base in Sonchaura in Nandigram, and Trinamool also has its base in the same area. Nishikanta was making negative propaganda and was not allowing us to function properly in the area. We had requested him many times but he refused to listen," Kishenji said.

The Maoist leader insisted Nishikanta was killed, not because he was a follower of a political party but was "personally corrupt and was a counter-revolutionary".

Mondal was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on the evening of September 22.