Cop recalls Maoist attack: Can’t believe he’s alive

“There was a friendly argument over who would have lunch first,as someone would have to stay with the vehicle. In the end,Maity and I decided to take lunch once the others finished and returned. I got out of the police van to stretch my legs when I heard gunfire at the dhaba. Before I could react,one of the miscreants hit me in the face with his pistol and took my rifle,” recounts Das,sitting on his bed in the ENT ward of the Bankura Medical College & Hospital.

Soon Das (52) saw Maity struggling to retain his weapon. “Considering that we were outnumbered,I told Maity to give up his weapon. I realised that the gang was intent on taking our weapons and would kill us if we protest. Throughout the incident,they were raising Maoist slogans,” he says.

While some of the 20-odd Maoists thrashed Das and Maity and took their weapons,another lot gunned down the three policemen at the dhaba.

“Some of them were waiting with motorbikes to make a quick escape. One of the men beat me up,snatched my mobile and wallet,asking his accomplice to do the same with Maity. ‘They will call for backup otherwise,’ he told him,” says Das.

The constable said the assailants were young and looked like tribals. Their Bengali was also accented the way local tribals speak the language,he adds.

“I have been a policeman in Bankura district for 26 years. This is the first time I have been attacked like this. I thought I was going to die. The attack was very well planned. It seemed they had been trained specifically keeping the police routine in mind,” says Das.

As he narrates his tale,Maity,who suffered severed bruises,is lying in a nearby bed.

While Das also has numerous cuts and bruises on his hands and legs,his left eye is aching woefully. “I was hit in the eye with the pistol butt. The eye has swollen and painful. I will have to take leave after I am discharged from the hospital. I belong to Barasat. My son Samir,who is pursuing higher studies,has come to look after me,” the constable says.

“Earlier,I had only heard about Maoists. When they attacked us,it was so sudden none of us had any time to react,” he adds.

According to the hospital authorities,both of them are in a stable condition with mostly external injuries.