Release of Maoist women supporters an exception: WB CM

New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Under attack for releasing 26
Maoist women supporters in exchange for an abducted police
officer, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Saturday said it was an exception and not part of the policy
to get rid of the Left extremists from the eastern state.

The decision to release the women prisoners under a deal
with the ultras was "an exception and not part of our overall
policy of getting rid of Maoists. We will carry on with our
objective (to end the menace)," he told reporters here.
"There is no illusion about it because Maoists are engaged
in murders, looting, extortion and all kinds of criminal
activities," the Chief Minister said while making it clear the
the fight against them would continue.
The Chief Minister has drawn heavy flak from the
opposition for the release of prisoners in exchange for
Atindranath Dutta, Officer-in-Charge of Sankrail police
station, who was released Friday by the Maoists under media
glare after three days in captivity.
Asked whether the Maoists would be emboldened by the move
and carry out such abductions again, Bhattacharjee said if
they thought on those lines, "then they are wrong. I will
teach them a lesson in future."
He said the women were released following an "offer (that)
came from their (Maoist) side. We gave it a serious thought.
It involved the life of a police officer."
Bhattacharjee said the women released on bail were charged
with cases like digging up roads, felling trees and carrying
out agitational activities and "they would have been released
on bail in any case within 10-15 days or a month. That is not
a surrender." PTI ARC
ANU


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