One more person was arrested in the Gyaneswari Express derailment case. The state CID on Tuesday arrested People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) leader Sameer Mahato, who is a key accused in the case. Sameer, a very close associate of rebel leader Bapi Mahato, is believed to have played a vital part right from the planning stage till the execution of the plan that caused the death of 148 persons.
Sameer, a resident of Kusumghati village in Manickpara, the same area where Bapi Mahato lives, was picked up from his residence by a CID team on Monday evening, claimed CID sources. Sameer’s name had cropped up while interrogating Khagen Mahato, the arrested owner of the pick-up van that was used to ferry the rebels to the spot of sabotage.
Insiders revealed that Sameer has been able to divulge the names of all the persons who were involved in the sabotage of the railway tracks at Sardiha. Investigating officers have also got the possession of electronic evidence to prove his involvement in the case, revealed CID officials. However, despite the plea by the public prosecutor for 14 days of police custody for Sameer, the Jhargram court remanded him to police custody for 10 days.
Meanwhile, two unidentified bullet-ridden bodies were recovered from near Jamboni in West Midnapore.