West Bengal CM assures abducted cop's family of swift action

Kolkata, Oct. 21 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today assured the family of the police officer who was kidnapped by Maoists in West Midnapore district on Tuesday of swift action for the cop's safe return.

Indrani, the wife of officer-in-charge of Sankrail police station Atindranath Dutta, conveyed Maoist leader Kishenji's demand of seeking the release of women arrested by joint forces in exchange of her husband to the chief minister.

Dutta's father, who along with the abducted officer's 2-year-old daughter had also met Bhattacharjee, said that the chief minister gave an assurance that his government was looking into the matter.

"We hope that Kishenji will also keep his word that their hostage is safe," he said.

Bhattacharjee reportedly said that the government did not want another case of Francis Induwar, and swift action is being taken to ensure that the police officer returns home safely.

Francis Induwar, a Jharkhand Special Branch police inspector, was brutally decapitated by Naxals in Jharkhand.

Dutta was abducted from a police station by Maoists who shot dead two other officers on Tuesday. They also looted over Rs nine lakh from a nearby State Bank of India branch before escaping.

Later in the evening, Maoist leader Kishenji demanded the release of women arrested as suspected Maoists by the joint forces. He also assured Indrani over phone that her husband would not be harmed.

Kishenji had also asked her to meet the chief minister in this regard. (ANI)