Private sector cargo handler Haldia Bulk Terminals Pvt. Ltd. (HBT) has accused the Haldia police and West Bengal administration of not prepared to guarantee safety to HBT.

HBT chief executive officer Gurpreet Malhi said that three of its officers and family members were abducted in the early hours of Sunday as the police failed to provide security.

Mr. Malhi said in a statement, "While the criminals were trying to force entry into their [the officers'] apartments, HBT's managers made numerous calls to the police begging for protection. The required help never came."

He added that HBT had paid up Rs 17, 45,730 towards deployment of police personnel to guarantee a peaceful work environment, but the recent incident showed that the police and the state administration were not ready to guarantee safety to the company.

He further said that the abducted officers were forced to flee at gunpoint and were threatened with dire consequences in case they ever set their feet on Haldia.

The officers of HBT have been under threats since the management threw 275 employees out of work last month.

The recent incident has sent shockwaves in the entire industry and there are apprehensions that it could affect prospects of new investments in the state.