(A file photo of Atindranath Dutta, right, with family)
Fifty-four hours after he was kidnapped by Naxals, Atindranath Dutta, a police officer in West Bengal, has been freed. The happy ending comes after 14 tribal women, in jail for alleged links to Naxals, were granted bail. They are among a group of 60 women in prison who the Naxals want released.
Dutta's relieved wife, Indrani, tells NDTV, "We are very happy, we're thankful to the government, media, and Kishanji ... finally he kept his word."
The policeman was kidnapped on Tuesday at the Sankrail police station in West Midnapore after a hundred armed Naxals, led by women, opened fire. Two officers were killed, Dutta was blindfolded and taken hostage.
Naxal leader Kishanji then said that Dutta would be treated as a prisoner of war, and would not be harmed if the government met some of his demands. In response, on Wednesday, the West Bengal government said that it was open to negotiations. Chief Minister Buddha Bhattacharjee also met Dutta's family in person, and reassured them of help.
But on Thursday morning, security forces surrounded the area where Kishanji and his Naxals are keeping Dutta hostage. Kishanji retaliated by warning that Dutta's safety could no longer be guaranteed. Soon, the security forces were withdrawn. Speaking to NDTV, Kishenji said he would honour his end of the deal, and that Dutta would be released before nightfall.