Over a dozen Maoists and People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) members have been killed under mysterious circumstances in Lalgarh region in the past two months, hinting at an intense internal churning over ranks, money and over leaking information to the police.

Since April 19, security forces claim to have recovered six bodies of Maoists or PCAPA members, buried in the forest. Security forces suspect they are victims of an internal battle.

Sensing internal squabbles and fearing the situation may spin out of control, the CPI-Maoist leadership has issued a circular in the Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa (BJO) regional committee, to enforce strict discipline within the organization, confirmed a senior Maoist ideologue.

"We have received several reports of comrades killing comrades over differences. The issue was discussed in our recent meetings. These internal killings have been reported mostly in the BJO regional committee. The reasons behind these differences among the comrades have been analysed and a circular issued, urging cadres to follow discipline or face punishment," said a Central Committee member of the CPI-Maoist.