New Delhi: Chhatradhar Mahato, a former Naxal leader, “was arrested around 4am from his residence in Amliya in Lalgarh police station”, said the officials.

NIA will produce in court photographs of graffiti written on the train in support of Mahato as evidence. The agency’s FIR also includes Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 121 and 121A waging war against India, 506 criminal intimidation, 341 wrongful restraint and 148 rioting, as well as charges under the Railway Act.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has roped in both Mahato, who has actively campaigned for the TMC in Jangalmahal, and his wife Niyati to strengthen the party in tribal dominated-areas, where the Bharatiya Janata Party  gained a foothold in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“He was evasive during questioning”, and therefore the decision to arrest him were taken, Said the NIA Officials in a press meet. “NIA allowed him to exercise his democratic right to vote. He also continued his electioneering process uninterrupted,” the official added.