Purulia (WB): Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Purulia district unit president was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on April 26 in connection with possession of illegal firearms by party activists, while its leadership has claimed it was done with a view to the coming panchayat polls.

Murali Mahato's arrest follows the apprehension of two party members, one from the district and another from Tatanagar in neighbouring Jharkhand on April 25 evening for possessing two illegal firearms, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Ajit Kumar said.

The two were arrested at the Purulia bus stand when they alighted from a bus from Kolkata, where they reportedly procured the firearms – a foreign made revolver and a country-made one, he said.

JMM state president Ajoy Mahato said the arrests were made to give the party a bad name before the May 11 panchayat polls.

The party, he said, would launch an agitation against the arrests.

PTI