Mondal had supplied ammunition and sophisticated rifles to Maity in late 2007. From March to November 2007, the CPM was locked in a battle with the Trinamool to “take over” Nandigram.

While Deputy Inspector General, CID (Operations), Siddh Nath Gupta declined to discuss the raids, CID sources said the raid was conducted at the residence of Maity, a member of the CPM-led Bhajachawli gram panchayat in Contai (South) Assembly constituency.

Sources said Mondal had admitted to supplying 10 .315 rifles, each valued at Rs 1.35 lakh to Maity. No arms, however, were recovered from Maity’s residence, who was not at home when the sleuths arrived.

“His family members said Maity had gone to Orissa. The CID officers had taken Mondal to identify the house where he had delivered the weapons. He recognised the residence as Maity’s. He has also named some persons who took the weapons from Maity,” sources said.

They added that raids had also been conducted at Patashpur to trace two persons —- Deepak and Dibakar. “Mondal said he had supplied three rifles and 30 rounds to Deepak while Dibakar procured five rifles and several rounds from him. Besides this, he said he supplied arms to one Gobind with Maoist links,” sources said.

CPM’s East Midnapore district secretary Kanu Sahu said he was not surprised that the police found an arms link to Maity. “The Bhajachawli GP is under us. Maity is a Trinamool-backed member. Of course no arms were found during the CID raid. They have long since entered Nandigram,” Sahu added.