Maoists deny abducting intelligence officer in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Maoist guerrillas Thursday denied their involvement in the abduction of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) activist from West Bengal’s Purulia district last month.

“We have come to know from the media that an intelligence branch inspector and a school teacher have been abducted. But we are not involved,” said an open letter by a Maoist state committee member.

The denial comes within 48 hours of top Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leader Kishenji’s claim that he has no information on the abducted duo.

The letter was signed by CPI-Maoist state committee member Bikram and sent to the media.

Saying that Maoists were being blamed for the abduction carried out by others, the letter claimed that it could have occurred “because of internal differences within the police”.

Maoists were also “investigating” the kidnapping, the letter added.

IB inspector Partha Biswas and his friend, a school teacher and NGO worker Soumyajit Basu have been missing since Oct 23 from Ayodhya hills in Purulia district.

Police claimed that the two were abducted by the Maoists. Forces are still clueless about their whereabouts.

Police have set up two contact numbers - cell phone 9051399183, and landline 2214-5486 - for any information about the two, but there has been no response so far.