Jhargram:
Time is running out for the Bankura school teacher kidnapped by Maoists in Bengal. The Maoists have issued a 48-hour ultimatum. They want the release of six men arrested for the murder of a police officer in Bankura on February 24. If they aren't freed, then the school teacher they say will be executed. The deadline expires on Sunday.
Maoists kidnapped Ranjit Duley on Friday. His brother Ramkrishna was shot dead by Maoists in August last year. Now, the family is distraught at the possibility of a second tragedy striking them.
"I was out when the incident occurred. When I came back, I heard what had happened. My father went to work at the school and never came back. At around 1 pm, 2 people came and started calling out for my father. They then took him away on a motorcycle. The other teachers were told that he would return in half-an-hour," says Golak Duley, son of the kidnapped teacher.
Around 9 pm on Friday, Kishenji phoned reporters to confirm the kidnap and issue an ultimatum - free six Bankura villagers from police custody in exchange of Ranjit or else... But the administration is showing no signs of working on a swap.
"We have received no conditions. And the administration can't run by cutting deals. We have not received any demands. This is no way," says AM Chakraborty, Chief Secretary, West Bengal.
In October, Maoists had kidnapped the OC of Sankrail police station in West Midnapore and freed him after 14 villagers arrested for Maoist connections were released from jail.
The Maoists deadline expires around 9 pm on Sunday. So far, no signs of the police releasing the six men, as the Maoists have demanded. The Duley family's hopes for Ranjit's return are sinking.
Maoists kidnapped Ranjit Duley on Friday. His brother Ramkrishna was shot dead by Maoists in August last year. Now, the family is distraught at the possibility of a second tragedy striking them.
"I was out when the incident occurred. When I came back, I heard what had happened. My father went to work at the school and never came back. At around 1 pm, 2 people came and started calling out for my father. They then took him away on a motorcycle. The other teachers were told that he would return in half-an-hour," says Golak Duley, son of the kidnapped teacher.
Around 9 pm on Friday, Kishenji phoned reporters to confirm the kidnap and issue an ultimatum - free six Bankura villagers from police custody in exchange of Ranjit or else... But the administration is showing no signs of working on a swap.
"We have received no conditions. And the administration can't run by cutting deals. We have not received any demands. This is no way," says AM Chakraborty, Chief Secretary, West Bengal.
In October, Maoists had kidnapped the OC of Sankrail police station in West Midnapore and freed him after 14 villagers arrested for Maoist connections were released from jail.
The Maoists deadline expires around 9 pm on Sunday. So far, no signs of the police releasing the six men, as the Maoists have demanded. The Duley family's hopes for Ranjit's return are sinking.
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