The ruling CPM, which had asked Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee not to buckle under the Maoist pressure, is unhappy over the turn of events.

A section of the party leaders feel that by succumbing to the Maoists’ pressure the Left Front government may have secured the release of police officer but the incident will have an adverse impact on the morale of party cadres.

“Now that the government has freed some of the arrested Maoists, we apprehend repetitions of such incidents of abductions,” said a senior CPM leader.

The CPM state secretary Biman Bose, however, refused to comment on the manner in which the abducted officer was released. “I have nothing to say. The government has acted according to its position,” Bose told mediapersons.

Asked whether it was correct to book the Maoists when the government refuses to oppose their bail pleas, Bose replied, “The Maoists should have been interrogated properly.”

Interestingly, RSP leader and state PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami, hailed the release of the arrested Maoists in exchange of the police officer. Goswami, who has been bitter critic of the chief minister, said: “The government had no option but to release the arrested Maoists for saving the life of the O-C. The officer’s safe return was more important than launching a counter-offensive.”