The beheaded body of Sanjoy Ghosh, a 23-year-old jawan of the SAP, was recovered from the forest areas near Satnala police camp in Barikul police station in the district on Wednesday.

Police sources confirmed that Sanjoy was brutally beheaded by the Maoists last night. The body of the deceased was taken to the Bankura police lines where he was given a guard of honour by SP, Bankura, Vishal Garg.

“We have started combing operation in the forest area. According our information, the Ayodhya squad of the Maoists was behind the incident. Sanjoy’s family will be compensated as per the existing rules and regulation of the government,” he said.

The SAP jawan was abducted on Monday night. Having received a tip off that a group of Maoists, including some important leaders, have gathered at Palpara, 2 km away from the Satnala police camp, a team of 25 jawans left for the area. However, according to an officer of the camp, the team found around 1,500 armed tribals there. The Maoists were also tipped off about the arrival of police team and formed a shield of women and kids. As a result, the jawans could not fire and as they began retreating, the Maoists surrounded them.

The Naxals attacked four jawans and beat them mercilessly. Swapan Roy (30), a resident of Coochbehar and one of the four, was severely injured and has been admitted in Bankura Medical College and Hospital. Meanwhile, Sanjoy Ghosh, a resident of Santragachi in Howrah and Ajoy Pandey, a resident of Purulia, went missing since then. Ajoy returned to the camp today and said he was given shelter by a family while the Maoists took Ajoy with them.

Sanjoy joined the police three years ago and for the last 10 months he has been posted in Bankura, said a senior police officer. In four Maoists affected police station area in the district — Ranibandh, Sarenga, Barikul and Raipu — there are 20 camps of joint forces at present.

Meanwhile, a Trinamool Congress worker, Rishi Dolui, was found murdered in Mainkpara in Jhargram police station area. Manoj Verma, SP, West Midnapore said the bullet ridden body was spotted near Kansabati river in Manikpara. Posters found near the body stated that Dolui was punished for working as an informer of the police, said Verma.