Kolkata, Aug 23 (IANS) Maoists have shot dead two people in West Bengal’s West Midnapore allegedly because they were working against the rebels, police said Sunday.
The killings took place in the Belpahari forest region late Saturday night, an official said.

“Two people, Karan Murmu and Lal Murmu, were killed by suspected Maoists at Shankhabhanga area of Belpahari forest region late last (Saturday) night,” West Midnapore Police Superintendent M.K Verma told IANS.

He said both the victims were supporters of a local political outfit, Jharkhand Party (Aditya), and were also involved in the anti-Maoist committee.

Verma said the police were carrying out a search operation in the forest area Sunday morning when the two bodies were found.

The state government had launched a massive security operation June 18 to flush out the Left-wing rebels, who had virtually made areas in and around Lalgarh in West Midnapore district a “free zone” since November last year.

However, despite the nearly two-month-long security operation, Maoist activities have continued unabated, and several members of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), activists of other political outfits and tribals have been killed as Maoists considered them police informers.

Maoists are active in three western districts of the state - Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore.