Prime suspect in Jnaneswari disaster case killed in 'encounter'

Umakanta Mahato, a prime suspect in the Jnaneswari train sabotage case, was killed by the joint forces during an 'encounter' in West Midnapore district in the wee hours on Friday.

Acting on a specific tip-off from locals that the Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) leader, who was carrying a reward of Rs. one lakh on his head, was hiding with a squad at Mohanpur near Lodhasuli jungle, the joint forces comprising CRPF, CoBRA and police personnel closed in on the area at around 1:00 am, police sources said,
Mahato and his squad opened fire to which the joint forces, led by Additional Joint Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar, retaliated, with the encounter carrying on till around 5:00 am, the sources said.
When the firing ceased, the joint forces entered the forested area and found the body of Mahato. A motorcycle, a mobile phone and a 9 mm pistol were found near the body, the sources said.
Superintendent of Police, Jhargram, Pravin Tripathy said that the operation was a major success as Mahato had been absconding since the announcement of the Rs. one lakh reward on his head by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is investigating the May 28 Jnaneswari Express disaster that left 148 passengers dead.
PCPA spokesman Asit Mahato, who took over the leadership of the outfit after the arrest of its convenor Chhatradhar Mahato is the only other person wanted in the case.