Suspected Maoists killed five persons connected with the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in two separate attacks in West Bengal on Thursday night.
Four supporters of the CPI-M were shot dead near Silda, West Midnapore district, 170 km west of Kolkata.
The ultras also killed a CPI-M worker called Srikanta Mahato in the neighbouring Purulia district.
In the West Midnapore attack, the bodies were found on Friday morning on a state highway at Jabbalpur, about 6 km from the spot at which the ultras killed 25 Eastern Frontier Rifles troopers on February 15.
"After primary investigation, we are sure (the four) were killed by Maoists. We have asked our forces to be more alert and keep a close watch on the area," said Jhargram Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi.
The bodies of the four men shot near Silda were found with their hands tied behind their backs. The manner of killing indicated they were tried in a Maoist 'court'.
Two vans were found abandoned at the place. The police said the rebels used these vehicles to pick up the victims from their homes.
The Maoists were reportedly in police fatigues when they knocked on the door of Ashok Ahir’s house and picked him up and his brother Sanatan on the pretext of taking them to the local police station.
{{/usCountry}}The Maoists were reportedly in police fatigues when they knocked on the door of Ashok Ahir’s house and picked him up and his brother Sanatan on the pretext of taking them to the local police station.
{{/usCountry}}Swapan Ahir and Najrul Meer were approached similarly. The rebels accosted a fifth person, Phulchand Ahir, though he managed to flee.
On Friday, the police arrested two persons suspected to be Maoist cadres from the Simlapal area in Bankura district. West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura are the three main Maoist-dominated districts in West Bengal.
The Maoists called a shutdown on Friday in West Midnapore demanding that squad member Soma Mandi, who was nabbed by security forces, be produced in court.