Chhatradhar Mahato, the jailed leader of the Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), filed his nomination papers on Tuesday as an Independent from the Jhargram Assembly constituency in the Maoist-hit West Midnapore.
Intelligence sources revealed that a group of intellectuals, who had met him in Midnapore Central Correctional Home recently, had urged him not to contest the Assembly polls in view of Trinamul Congress’ candidate Sukumar Hansda fighting from the same seat. But he remained firm in his decision and announced of contesting the elections under the banner of Santras Durniti O Samrjyabadi Agrasanbirodhi Ganatantrik Mancha (Democratic Forum Against Terror, Corruption & Imperialist Aggression).
At around 11.20 am, the 48-year-old tribal leader was brought from the prison to Jhargram sub-divisional officer (SDO) C. Murugan’s office guarded by a heavy contingent of police personnel for filing his nomination. He was accompanied by his wife Neoti Mahato and lawyer Kaushik Sinha. Besides, nearly 10,000 supporters of Mahato, mostly PCPA activists, rallied behind him up to the SDO’s office.
In his affidavit, the PCPA leader mentioned that there are 31 criminal cases, including one on charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, pending against him in different police stations in West Midnapore and Bankura.