Maoists abduct school teacher in Bengal

KOLKATA - A primary school teacher in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district has been abducted by Maoists, police said Saturday.

“Debendranath Singh, a teacher of Kajla primary School in the Maoist-affected Jhargram sub-division, went missing Friday and today (Saturday) his son lodged a complaint with police alleging that his father has been abducted by the Maoists. We have initiated an investigation,” Jhargram Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi said.

Singh’s family members alleged that Friday he went to school and from there he went to sub-divisional school inspector office to attend a meeting. On his way back, he was picked up by three suspected Maoists, who came riding on motorcycles, said Tripathi.

Meanwhile, the security personnel detected four landmines from the Indraboni forest area near Jhargram during routine patrolling.

The landmines were later safely defused, said Tripathi.