Bargaining with Maoists is not on government’s agenda, says W. Bengal Home Secretary

KOLKATA - West Bengal Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty has said that bargaining with Maoists is not on the state government’s agenda.

He also denied any demand being put up by the rebels for the release of an abducted schoolteacher.

“We have not received any information on the conditions laid down from their side. Administration cannot work on bargaining but we have not received any conditions. This is no solution, - to capture harmless and innocent and put forth your demands. This is no solution. Such type of violence is unacceptable,” said Chakravorty, on the sidelines of a meeting here on Saturday.

A group of Maoists abducted Ranjit Duley, a schoolteacher in Bankura district on Friday and threatened to kill him if the State Government failed to release six villagers arrested after police officer Rabi Lochan Mitra’s murder

On Friday evening, the armed Maoists barged into Shibram Satpathy School in Sarulia village of the District and went around searching for Duley.

Duley came out and confronted them.

The Maoists pointed their guns at Duley and asked him to come along.

It was reported that the Maoists ‘tried’ him at a Kangaroo Court deep inside the Amlachuti Forest area.

The incident occurred just days after Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao’s right hand man Telugu Deepak was arrested by the West Bengal Police.

Koteshwar Rao also served a 48-hour ultimatum for Duley’s release.

It was reported that the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) leader Sidhu Soren, also made the same demand.

Soren also claimed that kidnapping was done by an outfit called Sidhu Kanu Grnamilitia, which appears to be a Maoist front organization.

Police suspect that Duley’s abduction has a revenge motive for the encounter of the suspected Maoist Jagannath Duley. (ANI)