Mamata Banerjee warns Maoists after party leader is shot dead

In a stern warning to Maoists after a Trinamool Congress leader was shot dead at Jhargram in West Midnapore district on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said "politics of killing" would not be tolerated when her government has launched development and peace initiatives in Jangalmahal.

Five Maoist cadres shot Lalmohan Mahato (39) from close range at Chotopukhuria when he was going to a coaching centre to give private tuition to school students and fled on two motorbikes, the police said.

Describing the killing as an "act of cowardice," Banerjee said, "Those, who want to jeopardise the peace process, are engaged in such politics of killing."

Referring to the Maoist interlocutors comprising some human rights activists, Banerjee told a Bengali TV on her way to quake-hit Sikkim, "Let those, who are having a dialogue with the Maoists, continue. But we do not accept such politics of killing. We believe in democracy."

The interlocutors, led by activist Sujato Bhadra, had been to Jangalmahal recently to negotiate with the ultras as part of the government's peace initiative. Earlier this month, they met Banerjee to apprise her about the latest developments in the engagement.

Referring to development activities launched by her government in Jangalmahal, she said, "Those who do not want people to remain in peace, get education and development, have indulged in such killings."

She also alleged that arms in possession of CPI(M) "goons" had passed into the hands of so-called Maoists.

Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the victim's kin and said state minister from West Midnapore district Sukumar Mahapatra and party MP Subhendu Adhikary have been asked to go to the spot.

A meeting to protest the killing would be organised by her party in the area and will be attended by the party's all-India general secretary Mukul Roy, she said.

Without naming any Maoist faction, the chief minister said the murders were being committed at the behest of the "Jayanta (Mahato) squad" and in the name of Janashadaraner Committee (Maoist-backed PCPA).

Bhadra had earlier said the state government had appointed them as interlocutors to facilitate talks with the Maoists to lay down arms and return to the mainstream.