A Maoist couple involved in over a dozen cases in Odisha and West Bengal was arrested by Mayurbhanj police on Saturday. The couple was among a gang of Left wing extremists who had attacked JMM state president and former Baripada MP Sudam Marandi in 2009.
They are Sushil Mohanta (26) alias Sunil alias Sandip and his wife Nila Mohanta (22) of Sautul village of West Midnapore district in West Bengal. They were produced in the court which remanded them in judicial custody after rejecting their bail applications.
A team of police officials led by SP Nikhil Kanodia raided the house of one Thakura Soren at Dudhakundi village under Chandua police limits where they had taken shelter for the last few days and nabbed them.
While Thakura is said to be the brother-in-law of Sushil, Nila’s brother Boka, who is also a hardcore Maoist and was involved in a series of criminal cases in West Bengal, had been lodged in jail. Police have, however, not arrested Thakura even though he had given shelter to the couple.
Police said during interrogation it was learnt that the couple was involved in at least six cases in Gopiballavpur area, three in Salabani area in West Bengal and more than four cases in Kuliana and Chandua areas in Mayurbhanj district.
Kanodia said they were suspected to the members of the gang of ultras who had launched the attack on Marandi who escaped unhurt. “We have got some clue and further investigation is on,” he said.
On October 13, 2009, the Maoists had gunned down a police ASI and two constables (PSOs of Marandi) at Bandab village under Chandua police limits where the former MP was a guest for the valedictory ceremony of a football tournament.
This apart, the couple had also killed saw mill owner Gourtam Mohanta in Kathasirisa area and son of a police informer in Handibhanga village in 2010.