West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma said: “On receiving a tip-off, we constituted a special task force which raided some houses in Metala village in Goaltore and arrested five persons with Maoist links. Two others were arrested from Garro village in the Jhargram police station area.”

The arrested men are: Samai Hembram, Gangaram Soren, Sanatan Hembram, Nagendranath Soren and Nirmal Hembram, who were arrested from Goaltore, and Gopal Patro and Nepal Patro, who were picked up from Garro village in Jhargram.

“Samai Hembram, Gangaram Soren, Sanatan Hembram, Nirmal Hembram, Gopal and Nepal Patro are hardcore Maoists. During interrogation, they admitted to having played vital roles in the Rajdhani Express hold up at Banstala near Jhargram and also the setting afire of a sponge iron factory in Lodhashuli and deer park in Jhargram. All of them are close associates of Kishenji,” said Verma.

Raids are on and we have launched a manhunt to capture more Maoists from the area, said the SP.

According to another senior officer, the Midnapore police had arrested three men — Gopal Mahato, Nepal Mahato and Jokar Mahato — with suspected Maoist links.

The trio reportedly told police about the Maoists’ shelter in Goaltore, following which the raids were conducted.