Activists want abducted officer, worker freed (Second Lead)

KOLKATA - Intellectuals and social workers in West Bengal Tuesday demanded the release of an Intelligence Bureau officer and a NGO activist believed to have been abducted by Maoists three days ago. But they appeared divided in their assessment of the Maoist 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. I personally feel that whoever has abducted them should release the two immediately,” he said.

Writer Sunando Sanyal demanded the withdrawal of the paramilitary forces and the state police engaged in anti-Maoist operations.

“I don’t believe in violence, and feel the kidnapped persons should be freed immediately. But along with it, joint forces should also be removed, as they have failed to achieve their purpose,” he said.

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

The victims’ family members Monday met Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

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