Maoist leader beaten to death by villagers in Jhargram

A prominent Maoist leader belonging to the Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) was beaten to death on Saturday by irate villagers in Jhargram district of West Bengal.

Hemanta Mahato (20) came to Nedabahara village to take part in a rally organised to protest against Friday's arrest of Gram Panchayat member and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Sukumar Murmu. Following an altercation, irate villagers beat Mahato to death fearing violence during the rally, Jhargram superintendent of police Bharati Ghosh said.

Murmu was arrested by the police on Friday after a landmine device was recovered from his residence. Mahato, a prominent Maoist, had three police cases pending against him, Ghosh said.