WB admits negotiation with Maoists for officer's release

Kolkata, Oct 24 (PTI) For the first time, the
government of India's eastern state of West Bengal has
admitted it negotiated with Maoists the release of abducted
police officer Atindranath Dutta.

"No government can say that whatever be the situation,
we will not compromise. This kind of incident happened in the
past in Kandahar, Delhi and Kashmir. Every time in the past
whenever such incidents took place, this question arose.
However, we have to see this kind of incident does not take
place," state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said.
"The state and Central governments always take a
flexible attitude in this type of incident," he told reporters
Friday when asked if the state government had 'softened' its
stand towards Maoists in securing the release of the
officer-in-charge of the Sankrail Police station by swapping
women arrested by security forces from West Midnapore.
He did not specify how the state government negotiated
with the Maoists in securing the release of Dutta.
This was a particular case, however, and the state
government would not hold talks with Maoists unless they
abjure violence, Sen said.
"There will be no talks with Maoists in future if they
stick to the path of violence," he added. MORE PTI SUN
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