According to a senior police officer of the Bagmundi police station, a group of 50 armed Maoists raided the house of an ex-government employee, Thakurdas Mahato, at Burudi village today.

Mahato said: “They asked me for the gun but I refused. They then dragged me out of the house and threatened me with dire consequences. They stormed into my house and looted my gun and bullets. I have informed the police but nobody came to help me.”

Significantly, the Maoists have warned the police and administration leaving posters which states that they will continue looting licensed arms and ammunition everyday from the villages in three districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura to combat the CPM cadres in the area. The posters were signed by senior Maoist leader Prabhat Ji. According to sources, Prabhat Ji is the area commander whose real name is Dwijen Hembram.