Sunday, July 10 2005 11:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Suspected Maoists guerrillas shot dead three CPM (Communist Party of India Marxist) local leaders and injured another party worker in two separate raids in West Bengal's Purulia and Bankura district tonight (July 9, 2005), CPM sources said.

According to the sources, 10-armed gunmen raided the house of a local CPM leader Mahendra Mahato (38) and fired at him from point blank range at Dulugdi village under Bandwan police station in Purulia district tonight.

They said Mahato died on the spot before being rushed to hospital. The body has been sent for post-mortem.

It was at Bandwan that Officer-in Charge of the police station was shot dead by suspected Maoists in October 11, 2003.

In another raid in adjoining Bankura district suspected Maoists gunned down a zonal committee and a local committee member of the CPM at Majdia tonight. The raiders fled after inflicting serious injury to another party worker. The sources further said the identity of the attackers was yet to be known.

Meanwhile, police sources in Kolkata said that reinforcements were rushed to both places in the two districts to track down the assailants. None was arrested till late tonight.