States » EastPosted at: Sep 17 2026 7:07PM


No attempt to revive 'Red Terror' will be tolerated in Bengal: CM Suvendu Adhikari warns

Midnapore, Sep 17 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said the state government would not allow any attempt to revive or expand the network of "Red Terror" after the Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) reportedly arrested CPI (Maoist) central committee member and West Bengal State Committee-CPI secretary Asim Mandal alias Akash from Lalat in Patashpur, East Midnapore.
In a post on X, Adhikari commended the Kolkata Police STF for tracking down and apprehending Akash, who, according to the Chief Minister, had been evading law enforcement for more than 15 years while moving through inter-state forest belts.
The Chief Minister said the arrest was based on "sharp technical intelligence" and described it as an indication of the state police force's operational capability.
"I want to make it categorically clear that the West Bengal Government will not tolerate any attempt to revive or expand the network of 'Red Terror' within our State borders," Adhikari said.
He warned that the government would not allow extremist ideology to threaten public safety and security or disrupt the state's development.
"The law will take its strictest course to demolish any such audacious attempt," he said.
Akash is understood to have remained underground for more than a decade and a half, operating across forested areas in different states. Police view his arrest as a major breakthrough in efforts to track down senior Maoist functionaries with links to the state's former Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
The arrest comes against the backdrop of intensified efforts by security agencies to prevent any regrouping of Maoist networks in south-western Bengal, areas that witnessed prolonged insurgency and political violence.
The STF is now expected to question Akash about his organisational network, movements, contacts and possible attempts to rebuild the Maoist structure in Bengal.
Police sources said his interrogation could provide crucial leads about the CPI (Maoist)'s present organisational strength and any attempts to establish fresh links in the state.
UNI BG NST CDS
Tags: #No attempt to revive 'Red Terror' will be tolerated in Bengal: CM Suvendu Adhikari warns
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