Kolkata, Sep 22 (IANS) A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist was shot dead in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district by suspected Maoists Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The victim – Srikanto Mondal, an employee of Sebayatan Girls’ High School – was shot in front of the school gate. Mandol’s parents, who were with him at the time of the incident, also sustained bullet injuries and were admitted to a hospital.

‘The modus operandi suggests that ultra left rebels were behind the crime,’ said Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi.

An assistant teacher of the school said: ‘Around 12.30 p.m., a gang of six miscreants shot Mondal.’

Maoists had Tuesday threatened Mondal that he will be killed if he did not stop participating in the night patrolling and anti-Maoists movement launched by the local CPI-M supporters.

Earlier also, several school teachers have been killed by the Maoists within the school premises – the latest being the murder of Ananta Mukherjee, CPI-M zonal committee member and clerical staff of Silda High School.

With the increase in such incidents, the teachers and students have demanded 24-hour security cover otherwise they will not attend the school.

Tripathi admitted that there has been an increase in the number of such cases. He, however, said: ‘It is not possible for us to provide security to individuals with the current strength.’

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