Maoists release abducted cop

Goverment gives in, releases 14 women prisoners in return

Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty confirmed that the Maoists have already released police officer Atindra Nath Dutta at an undisclosed location near Domohani jungle in the Lalgarh region, almost three days after they had kidnapped him from the police station in West Bengal’s Midnapore district.

This is the first time in the history of the state that the state authorities had to bow down to the demand of the Left wing radicals and free tribal women who had earlier been detained on suspicion of being active Maoist sympathisers and accomplices.
The release of Dutta was preceded by another interesting development as the Midnapore court, earlier in the day, released 14 tribal women who were suspected to have links with the ultras in the Lalgarh region.

The state government, as demanded by the Maoist leader Kishenji, did not oppose their bail plea and the 14 were granted bail. “We were relieved when we got the information that Dutta has walked out free from the captivity of the Maoists. Even the Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacherjee too was worried about his safe return,”the chief secretary told newsmen at the state secretariat here. The abducted cop was released before his lawyer and several newsmen who trekked into the forest with their mobiles switched off as part of a strict condition imposed by the ultras. “Atindranath Dutta, who was taken as a Prisoner of War on Tuesday from Sankrail police station, has been released,” Kishenji said over telephone from his hideout. Asked if the government has accepted the demand of releasing the women, Kishenji said there were 14 women altogether whose bail applications were taken up by the court on Thursday. “They have got the bail.On their return, we’ve released the officer-in-charge”.

Asked if it was proposed by the government, the leader remained non-commital, saying “I cannot say whether they were released following government’s instruction, but coincidentally today was their date for appearance at the court and their bail application was granted.” The Maoist leader declined to reveal whether any government official came for negotiation. “Right now, I cannot disclose anything more,” he said.
  The released cop is likely to return to the city on Friday and get reunited with his family.