A West Bengal minister on Tuesday hinted at the Maoist connection of Sankrail police officer-in-charge Atindranath Dutta, who had been kidnapped by the Naxalites on October 20 and was released after two days.
"The OC must have been abducted, but how? It could be known exactly only after investigation. But people have many queries about his abduction... His movement during the kidnapping and after his release and the way he moved around and talked to the media after returning Kolkata," said Western Region Development Affairs Minister Susanta Ghosh.
"People have raised some legitimate questions. They suspect the OC has some connection with the Maoists," he said, adding it was urgent for the government to get him released otherwise it could have an adverse reaction from the force.
"The OC spent over 50 hours with the Maoists who believed in killing, abduction and extortion as their politics, but no sign of tension or panic was sighted in his appearance, which is surprising to all. Unfortunately, the OC never enquired about the family members of his two subordinates killed by the Maoists at the police station," he said.
The Maoists had on October 20 raided Sankrail police station in West Midnapore district, shot dead two policemen and kidnapped the OC besides looting a bank.
"Actually, the Maoists went on the back foot after the People's Committee against Police Atrocities leader Chhatradhar Mahato was arrested. They had been seeking some mileage out of this abduction drama," he said.
