Malda, July 1: Two suspected KLO militants were arrested from different parts of Malda district last night for alleged involvement in the murder of a BJP panchayat samiti member and a bomb attack in Gajole last month.

The arrests happened within 24 hours of a press release issued by Shayam Roy, the self-styled commander-in-chief of the KLO, that warned of attacks on government officials and property.

Kalyan Mukerjee, the superintendent of police of Malda, said Shibu Tudu alias Tiger, 22, was arrested from an abandoned brick kiln at Bamangola, 55km from Malda town, last night. He was carrying fake currency with a face value of Rs 49,500. Somnath Mardi alias Bhiku, 28, was picked up from Kodubari in Gajole, 40km from Malda. Fake notes totalling Rs 50,000 were found on him.

Mukherjee said the KLO was involved in the murder of BJP leader Nripen Mondal on June 16 and the bomb blast that killed a person at Gajole on June 25.

“KLO militants were involved in both the incidents. During the investigation into the murder, we got the name of Malkan Singh alias Madhab Mondal (organising secretary of the KLO), and launched a search for him. We had information that Malkan was behind the two attacks and he was hiding somewhere in Gajole,” said the police chief.

The police said the militants had exploded a bomb in Gajole to divert the attention from the police’s pursuit of Malkan. On Saturday, Habibpur police nabbed Ajoy Roy, a leader of Kamtapur Progressive Party.

“He said the KLO had masterminded the attack on Nripen Mondal and the blast. Roy also said Malkan had fled from Malda,” said Mukherjee.

Tudu and Mardi were produced in the chief judicial magistrate’s court here today and sent to police custody for three days.