While the state government is still fighting shy of clearly admitting to any swap deal that led to the release of police officer Atindranath Dutta from Maoists’ captivity, officers leading the security operations in the frontline said they had to abruptly call off their offensive just when they had surrounded top Maoist Kishenji and were within the striking distance on Thursday morning.

“Some enlightened boss asked me to stop the operation and get back to the barracks,” said an angry senior officer who was leading the operation at Purnapani, about 25 km form Lalgarh.

The police commando team claimed they had encircled the Maoist squad that was holding Dutta captive and that even Kishenji was moving with them.

The officer said the commando team had followed cellphone trails to zero in on the group.

After his release, Dutta had told reporters he heard gunshots around him on Thursday morning. The exchange of gunfire between troops and Maoists took place in the jungles of Purnapani-Gohomidanga area.

On Thursday evening, Dutta was released in the same area and Kishenji had said his release was delayed by the offensive in the morning that went for three hours.

“First, we were asked to stop firing. Then, after an hour, the order came to withdraw the men and return to the camps,” the officer said.

Around 200 personnel took part in the operation that began at 6 am on Thursday and were supported by anti-mine vehicles as they advanced toward the heavily forested area in the Purnapani-Gohomidanga area, where Kishenji and others were holed up.

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