Activists demand release of abducted officer, worker

KOLKATA - Intellectuals and social workers in West Bengal Tuesday demanded the release of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) worker believed to have been abducted by Maoists from the state’s Purulia district Oct 23. But they appeared divided in their assessment of the state’s ultra Left movement.

“I personally believe that the Maoist movement in Bengal has gone haywire and it has become very unpopular. That is why Maoists are resorting to abductions and random killings. This is unfair. Those who have been abducted should be released immediately,” actor Kaushik Sen told IANS.

Writer Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay too was sharply critical of the Maoists.

“What the Maoists have done is a very low-grade crime. These kind of activities cannot be supported. They will achieve nothing by doing such things. I appeal to them that those who have been abducted should be released immediately,” Mukhopadhyay said.

However, Sujatao, secretary of the city-based Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), cautioned against jumping to conclusions.

“First of all, it is not yet confirmed that Maoists are behind this abduction. So, it is too early to comment on this matter. But I personally feel that whoever has abducted them, should release the two immediately,” he said.

Maoists have so far not claimed responsibility for the abduction of IB officer Partha Biswas and NGO worker Soumyajit Bose. Police Tuesday said they were clueless about their whereabouts.

The victims’ family members Monday met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the state secretariat Writers Buildings.

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