Local leaders said the attacks against their partymen were aimed at disturbing the panchayat elections slated for May this year.

Raj Kanojia, IG, Law and Order, said: “Suspected Maoists from Jharkhand are behind the incidents. Nadia is an old Maoist bastion. Combing operations are on in all those areas where the murders have taken place.”

“We are investigating the case. No one has been arrested so far,” said Harikishore Kusumakar, Superintendent of Police, Nadia.

According to police, Mondol (53), a resident of Mathurapore, had just reached the Madhabpur ghat around 11 am, after crossing Jalangi river on a boat, when five unidentified assailants fired at him from a close range. He died on the spot. Police found Maoist posters and leaflets in the area, officers said. Mondol worked at a Sishu Siksha Kendra in Madhabpur.

Palan Kumar Majhi (53), a CPM member in Balarampore, Purulia, was at his home in Bersa village when a group of nearly 20 Maoists attacked around 10.30 pm. They broke open the door and dragged him out of the house, before pumping five bullets into his body. He died on the spot. The assailants fled chanting Maoist slogans and left behind leaflets and posters, police said.

“Panchayat elections are approaching and CPM party workers, cadres and supporters are being targeted or terrorised. In Balarampore and Barabazar areas, four CPM supporters and leaders have been murdered since last year. The police, and even the CRPF, have completely failed to control the Maoist menace here,” said Nakul Mahato, secretary of the CPM’s district committee.

Another CPM leader, Sisir Chatterjee (56), was killed in Burdwan district.

A resident of Kanaidanga village, Chatterjee was a member of Ajay-Bhagirathi zonal committee of the CPM.

He was returning home from the local market when five miscreants attacked him and chopped his head off.

They took away the severed head which was recovered hours later from a paddy field in nearby Khirgram village.