Police detain scribes for meeting Maoists in West Bengal

A team of three intellectuals and as many reporters, who allegedly went to meet Maoist ultras in West Midnapore district, were today detained by the joint forces for interrogation before some of them were released.

"A team went there to meet the Maoists today when the joint forces operation was going on. So, the entire team was detained for interrogation," inspector general (law and order) Surajit Kar Purakayastha said.

"Later, the scribes and some others were released. But we will check the history of the rest before they are released," Kar Purkayastha added.

The Maoist backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), however, claimed 78 people -- 72 villagers and six intellectuals and reporters -- were arrested from Pirakata area of West Midnapore district.

"The joint forces today arrested 72 innocent villagers and Prof Nisha Biswas and Kaniska Chowdhury, teacher Madhusudhan and three journalists. They are from a leading English daily, an English news channel and a Kolkata-based vernacular newspaper," PCPA spokesperson Monoj Mahato told PTI from an undisclosed location.

Superintendent of police Monoj Kumar Verma, however, said "five persons were arrested from Pirakata area today morning".

Asked whether the scribes and intellectuals were arrested, Verma said "I cannot divulge any more details".

The PCPA demanded immediate release of the all the people and otherwise they would go for a movement.