Naxal leader K.N. Ramachandran goes untraceable after arriving in Kolkata

According to a statement, published by the central committee of CPI(ML) Red Star, the senior leader of the party became untraceable shortly after arriving at Howrah railway station on Sunday.

"Com K N Ramachandran, General Secretary, CPI (ML) Red Star, who reached Howrah railway station by around 5 PM on 22nd January 2017. He is missing since then. All attempts to contact comrade K N Ramachandran over his mobile phone are in vain," the statement said.

According to the party officials, K. N. Ramachandran was coming to Kolkata to declare solidarity with the demonstrating people of Bhangar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district.

"Comrade travelled from Lucknow to Howrah to declare solidarity with the people and the CPI (ML) Red Star comrades who are heroically resisting super imposition of a power grid by Mamata Government at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal," a CPI(ML) Red Star statement said.

The party claimed that Kolkata Police have detained the senior Naxal leader and stashed him.

"We suspect the involvement of Mamata’s notorious Special Police in comrade’s missing. We demand the Mamata Govt. to unconditionally produce Com KN Ramachandran immediately. We appeal to the communists, progressive democratic forces and like-minded people for their wholehearted solidarity and support at this critical juncture," the party further stated.

However, Kolkata Police officials told IBNS that they did not know anything about the matter and have started probe into it, after the party lodged a missing complaint at Chitpur Police Station.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)