Maoists release abducted West Bengal police officer
Kolkata:
The Maoists on Thursday released abducted
West Bengal police officer Attendranth Dutta at Domohini forest. The Maoists had
abducted Dutta when they had attacked Sankrail police station in West Bengal’s
West Midnapore district on October 20. They had also targeted a bank next to the
police station and left behind posters demanding release of their two leaders
Kobad Ghandy and Chatrodhar Mahato, who were arrested by law enforcement authorities
in New Delhi and West Bengal, respectively, earlier in September. Earlier in the
day, Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishanji had announced that Dutt would be released as the West Bengal Government agreed to release a woman Maoist activist in
exchange for him. He said this while speaking to a private news channel from an
undisclosed location. However, the West Bengal Government did not confirm Rao’s
claim. Rao had also asked the West Bengal and the Union Governments to halt police
action or risk harm to kidnapped police officer Dutta. Maoists had remained firm
that they would not release Dutta until their arrested cadres were freed.
