A file photo of the kidnapped police officer Atindranath Dutta
Security forces opened fire on Maoists who were to produce kidnapped police officer Atindranath Dutta before the media at Lakhanpur village in West Midnapore district on Thursday morning.
A CRPF officer said mortars were also used when the Maoists retaliated.
Maoist leader Kishenji said that he has asked the security forces to stop the firing otherwise the officer-in-charge of Sankrail police station, who was kidnapped on October, 20 would be beheaded.
He said that the security forces, who followed journalists to the village cordoned it off and began firing at around 9:10 am, but it has just stopped.
"I cannot guarantee the safety of the police officer if there is firing," he said.
On Wednesday, the West Bengal government had said it was ready for negotiations. "If the Maoists make a specific proposal, the state government is willing to talk to them," said state Chief Secretary AM Chakroborty.
Atindranath Dutta was taken hostage by a hundred armed Naxals who shot dead two other officers on duty at the Sankrail Police Station in West Midnapore. The Naxal attack was led by women. Dutta was blindfolded and forced onto a motorcycle, after which the Naxals rode away.
The government's offer to negotiate with Naxals came after Dutta's family met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. He reportedly promised Dutta's father that he would help to bring the police officer home. Dutta's two-year-old daughter, present at the meeting, was a poignant reminder of what's at stake.
A day after Dutta was kidnapped, Kishanji had told NDTV that Dutta would be treated like a Prisoner of War, and not be harmed. Among the reported demands of the Naxals is the release of Chattradhar Mahato, who was arrested by the police last month. Mahato is one of the leaders of the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities. He has been leading the rebellion in Lalgarh against the government. Naxals claim this movement supports the rights of tribals in the area.