Kolkata, Oct 23 (Inditop.com) Emotional and ecstatic scenes were on display here as abducted police officer Atindranath Dutta was re-united with his family early Friday after spending 54 tension-filled hours in Maoist captivity.
Escorted by state police commandos, Dutta returned to his in-laws’ home in north Kolkata around 2:15 a.m., and was welcomed by his parents, wife, other relatives and neighbours.
“Now I just want to spend the next few days with my family and unwind,” said the Sankrail police station officer-in-charge, as he hugged his mother Chanda.
“I cannot say how happy I am,” said Chanda, as tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.
The old and non-descript house had been hogging the limelight for the past two days, as the media had virtually laid siege to it in their bid to bring their readers and viewers every moment of the fast-changing drama.
“During these two days I only wanted to get him back. Now I feel very emotional. Thanks everybody – Kishanjee, administration, the media, and also those who sent so many messages to the news channels praying for his release,” Dutta’s wife Indrani said, clasping her husband’s arms.
After threatening to kill him, Maoists freed Dutta Thursday evening and handed him over to a group of journalists in Domohoni jungle in West Midnapore district, in a swap with a group of Maoist women activists.
Around noon Thursday, a West Bengal court released 14 tribal women on bail, which was one of the conditions laid down by the rebels for Dutta’s freedom. The women were jailed for their alleged links with the Maoists.
“I feel very relieved at having returned unharmed to my family – my wife and parents,” said Dutta, who was abducted from his quarter near the Sankrail police station in West Midnapore district Tuesday.
Asked whether he would continue in the police, Dutta said: “Right now, I am not saying I won’t be with the police or with its mainstream. But I will be happy if I am sidelined (transferred) to some allied wings of the police.”
“I shall be happy if I am given a posting at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). I shall do my best,” he said while replying to another query.
To another question on whether he would return to Sankrail as officer in charge Dutta said: “I can’t say now. I am sure my superiors will take a decision after considering all aspects.”
He regretted the death of his colleagues, second officer sub-inspector Dibakar Bhattacharya and assistant sub-inspector Swapan Roy, who were shot by Maoist rebels.
“I was not there when the shooting took place. I only heard sounds of firing. One had two more years in the service, the other four years. I have learnt they protested. So they had to give their lives,” he said.
On his time in the jungles as hostage, the bespectacled Dutta said it was “not a happy experience. And staying in the jungle in the cold was also not nice. But they (Maoists) gave me rags and a quilt”.
Asked about his interactions with Maoist leader Kishanjee alias Koteshwar Rao, Dutta said: “I spoke to him only in the dark. And at times, I was blindfolded also. But as a person, he did not misbehave with me. He was nice to me.”
Sleepless apprehension had gripped Dutta’s family since Tuesday. After the happy ending, it was time to be together, visit religious places, and rest.
