By IANS,
Kolkata : Two men have been arrested in connection with a landmine explosion in West Midnapore district Wednesday in which three people were killed, police said.
“We have arrested two suspects Thursday from the Jharkhand border, about 2 km from the explosion site near the forested area of Belpahari village,” District Police Superintendent Rajesh Singh told reporters.
“They are not directly involved with the blast but have connections with Maoists, who are responsible for the explosion,” Singh said.
A doctor, Dhaniram Mandi, nurse Bharati Majhi and medical van driver Bapi Mishra were killed on their way to Belpahari Health Centre from the adjoining Kishori village when their vehicle was blown up in a landmine blast around 3 p.m. Wednesday near Belpahari village, about 250 km from here.
Singh said the explosion was a “planned action” of the Maoists.
“Till date the Maoists used to target Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists and policemen. This is the first time they targeted common people. But this is no accident but a well-chalked out plan to spread panic among people,” Singh added.
Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), along with a dog squad, combed the area Thursday in search of clues and samples related to the blast.
The same day residents of Belpahari took out a silent rally mourning the death of the doctor, nurse and medical van driver and asked for justice.
“We want protection from the Maoist attacks and justice for the deceased in the Wednesday blast,” said Robin Ojha, a resident and employee of Belpahari Health Centre.