On Friday afternoon, Ranjit was in his office at Shibram Satpathy school when armed Maoists arrived on motorcyles. Two gunmen barged into the compound and fired in the air to disperse the students. As other teachers fled, Ranjit confronted them.

Witnesses said two men pointed guns at him and asked him to come along. Sidhu Soren of the Maoist backed Gana Militia has owned up to the abduction and demanded the release of six villagers arrested following the death of Rabi Lochan Mitra, officer-in-charge of Sarenga police station, in a gunbattle with the Maoists.

“The situation is critical and we are doing whatever we can. Our investigation is on,” said Bankura SP Bishal Garg. According to police sources, teams of special task force personnel were conducting raids in various areas of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore for Ranjit. Police believe Ranjit is being held in some jungle area in the Jhargram-Lalgarh belt. Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said the government was trying its best to rescue the teacher. “We are trying to collect all information and are trying to get him released unharmed,” he said.

The family members of the schoolteacher, meanwhile, appealed to Kishenji for Ranjit’s release. Significantly, Ranjit’s younger brother Ramkrishna was murdered by Maoists last August as he was working in his field. The family used to be CPM supporters, but after the killing of Ramkrishna, Ranjit has not renewed his party membership.

“They killed my father-in-law a year back. Now they have abducted his brother. Why can’t we live in peace. I beg to Kishenji for his life. We want the Maoists to show mercy,” said Tararani, a relative. “We have also appealed to the administration to release the six villagers as demanded by the Maoists,” she added.