Abducted teacher still untraced

The fate of the teacher Ranjit Duley, abducted by Maoists in West Midnapore in West Bengal is still unknown.

The Maoist identified as Gurcharan Hembram was killed in the encounter with the security forces at the Bhalukbasa forest in West Midnapore district which adjoins Bankura, Superintendent of Police, Bankura, Vishal Garg said.

The encounter took place as the security forces acted on a tip-off that the abducted teacher and also CPI-M leader Ranjit Duley had been taken to the forest, security forces surrounded the Maoists at Goaltore, when they were fired upon, sources said.

They had set a 48 hour deadline for release of their cadre which ended on Sunday night. Duley was abducted from the Barulia Madhyamik Siksha Kendra in Sarenga area at gun-point when he was invigilating the secondary examination on March 5.

The government has not accepted these demands. According to reports, Sidhu Soren, commander of the Maoist group in the area called up Duley's family and told them that if they speak against police atrocities, he may be released.

Source : http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/as-deadline-ends-abducted-teacher-still-untraced-17357.php