Meanwhile, the five CPM workers allegedly abducted by Maoists from their houses in Jhargram are yet to be traced.

Three of the four killed today were abducted late Thursday night and produced before the court (Gana Adalat) held by the Maoists. They were later stabbed and then shot. The fourth victim was killed today at Dharampur in broad daylight while a CPM supporter was severely injured by the armed rebels.

According to a senior police officer, Maoists raided the houses of Anil Chalak and Dayal Chalak at Badhgora in Jhargram late Thursday night and dragged them out. Anil was a teacher at a local school. The two were declared “guilty” in the Maoist “court” after which they were stabbed and then shot. Anil Patra of Baita in Jhargram was also killed in the same way in the morning today.

A local panchayat member, Ganesh Hazda, was beaten up with iron rods and then released. In the afternoon today, CPM member Sisir Jana was shot dead by suspected Maoists at Dharampur in Lalgarh. West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma SP said forces have been deployed in troubled zones.

Meanwhile, the PCAPA supporters torched three oil tankers on NH-6 and a truck at Chhadra. A sponge iron factory at Jitusole was also set ablaze. The outfit has intensified its activities in protest against the police’s failure to produce suspected Maoist leaders Raju Adak and Joydeb Bera in court even after 12 days of their arrest on December 6. PCAPA supporters took to roads since morning and started ransacking and torching whatever vehicles came their way. Most of the private and public vehicles kept off the road in West Midnapore, apprehending trouble.