Kolkata, November 02: For the first time since the Maoist menace surfaced in a big way in West Bengal nine years ago, the state government today said that it was open to dialogue with the ultras.
“The government is open to dialogue with the Maoists and wants to open a channel of communication,” Additional DGP (law and order) S Karpurakayastha said ten days after the abduction of police officer Partha Biswas and his friend Soumyajit Basu.
Asked why the administration wanted to open talks with the Maoists after more than a week, the ADG said, “We feel this is a right time. The government is open to dialogue (with the Maoists).”
On Maoist leader Kishenji pleading ignorance about the abducted duo, he said, “We don’t know. We are suspecting a Maoist hand in it.
–Agencies