Search launched for missing intelligence officer

KOLKATA - Security forces were conducting combing operations in several parts of West Bengals Purulia district Sunday looking for an Intelligence Branch (IB) officer and an NGO worker who are believed to have been abducted by Maoists, police said.

IB officer Partha Biswas and NGO worker Surojit Bose have been missing since Saturday.

Purulia police superintendent Rajesh Yadav said joint forces along with the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) personnel were carrying out the search operations.

Maoists are active in three western districts of West Bengal - Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore.