Family of abducted police officer meets Buddhadeb

A day after Maoists abducted a police officer in West Midnapore district, his family members met West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who assured that the matter was being looked into.

Indrani, the wife of officer-in-charge of Sankrail police station Atindranath Dutta, said they had conveyed to the chief minister Maoist leader Kishenji's demand that women arrested by joint forces in West Midnapore district be released immediately.

Dutta's father, who along with the abducted officer's two-year-old daughter had also met Bhattacharjee, said that the chief minister gave an assurance that his government was looking into the matter.

"We hope that Kishenji will also keep his word that their hostage is safe," he said.

Dutta was abducted from a police station by Maoists who shot dead two other officers yesterday. The ultras who came on motorbikes, also looted over Rs9 lakh from a nearby State Bank of India branch before escaping.

Later in the evening, Maoist leader Kishenji demanded the release of women arrested as suspected Maoists by the joint forces. He also assured Indrani over phone that her husband would not be harmed.

Kishenji had also asked her to meet the chief minister in this regard.