The 22-year-old commander was critically injured in a crossfire between the joint forces and the Belpahari squad on January 25.

According to police sources, Mahato’s relatives got him admitted in the nursing home, Labbaik, on January 27 with bullet injuries.

The nursing home authorities, after seeing the bullet wounds, had informed the local police station. Senior officers of the Ekbalpore police station then sent messages to the West Midnapore district.

“His condition was critical when he was admitted. But at present he is out of danger. However, even after sending three messages to the district police we have not received an official order to take him into custody,” said a senior officer of the Ekbalpore police station.

As per records of the Belpahari police station, cases have been registered against Mahato under Sections 121/122/123/124A/121A/307 of IPC; 25/27/35 of Arms Act and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substance Act.

“Mahato is wanted in several cases in Belpahari and Ghatal police stations. We could not trace him after he was injured as the Maoists did not admit him in a local hospital. But soon after he was admitted in a city nursing home, we got information. We are maintaining a strict vigil on him and his visitors,” said a senior police officer of West Midnapore.

According to police sources, Mahato’s brother-in-law Nitin and his uncle Baidyanath visited him several times and even paid his bills.

Baidyanath is a retired constable of West Bengal Police, said the officer pleading anonymity. “We have information that Baidyanath paid his bills after receiving money from the Maoists. But now the Maoists have stopped sending him money. Around Rs 80,000 is still due in the nursing home. So the relatives have taken the decision to shift him to a local hospital. We have interrogated him. But we will not take him into custody till he is cured,” added the officer.