Maoists free collector after govt concedes all demands
Source: TOI
Maoists release Orissa collector
See photo BHUBANESWAR/MALKANGIRI: The week-long hostage drama ended with official sources confirming that Maoists released Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi late on Tuesday night after the Orissa government conceded to all 14 of their demands. Eight demands were accepted on Monday and six were agreed to on Tuesday.
(Read: Abducted Orissa collector sends letter to wife, she sends back clothes)
The officials` release was confirmed by a senior officer of Andhra Pradesh`s elite Greyhounds. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, "The Maoists have set the district collector and junior engineer free." They would be released from different spots, sad sources. (Read: Maoists spreads terror network in AOB)
Krishna and Majhi were expected to reach Malkangiri late on Tuesday or Wednesday morning from the Maoist stronghold somewhere near Balimela reservoir amid a large gathering of administrative officials, well-wishers, local people. There was strong speculation in Malkangiri throughout the day that the captives would reach their homes safe on Tuesday night itself.
Krishna and Majhi were kidnapped by the Maoists on February 16 near Jantapi village in Malkangiri. Among their 14 demands were calling for a halt to anti-Maoist operations by security forces, release of all political prisoners, scrapping of accords with MNCs for land transfer and projects, and compensation for the families of Maoist sympathisers killed in police custody.
(Read: Village from Orissa collector is abducted is distraught yet divided)
At the 8pm briefing on Tuesday, Orissa home secretary U N Behera and Panchayati raj secretary S N Tripathy, after marathon talks with negotiators, Prof H Haragopal, Prof R Someswara Rao and Dandapani Mohanty, said the Maoists would release Krishna and Majhi within the next 48 hours. The rebels sprang a surprise by setting them free much before ther own deadline.
The breakthrough occurred after Ganti Prasadam, a key Maoist, was brought to the Jharpada special jail in Bhubaneswar from Koraput, with whom Haragopal, Rao and Mohanty held two rounds of talks spanning over four hours. Ganti was brought under tight security in a special vehicle and he reached Bhubaneswar early Tuesday morning.
"Now our common responsibility is to defuse the situation. The impasse should not be allowed to continue for long," Ganti said. Indications that the kidnapping drama was nearing end came during the day when the home secretary said, "We are close to the solution."
"We agreed on all 14 issues," Behera told reporters, adding, "Now that all the issues have been resolved, the mediators have given us firm commitment on the safe return of the collector and junior engineer."
Haragopal said, "We are satisfied with the outcome of our mediation," adding that the mediators will now working on the modalities for the hostages` release.
(Read: Abducted Orissa collector sends letter to wife, she sends back clothes)
The officials` release was confirmed by a senior officer of Andhra Pradesh`s elite Greyhounds. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, "The Maoists have set the district collector and junior engineer free." They would be released from different spots, sad sources. (Read: Maoists spreads terror network in AOB)
Krishna and Majhi were expected to reach Malkangiri late on Tuesday or Wednesday morning from the Maoist stronghold somewhere near Balimela reservoir amid a large gathering of administrative officials, well-wishers, local people. There was strong speculation in Malkangiri throughout the day that the captives would reach their homes safe on Tuesday night itself.
Krishna and Majhi were kidnapped by the Maoists on February 16 near Jantapi village in Malkangiri. Among their 14 demands were calling for a halt to anti-Maoist operations by security forces, release of all political prisoners, scrapping of accords with MNCs for land transfer and projects, and compensation for the families of Maoist sympathisers killed in police custody.
(Read: Village from Orissa collector is abducted is distraught yet divided)
At the 8pm briefing on Tuesday, Orissa home secretary U N Behera and Panchayati raj secretary S N Tripathy, after marathon talks with negotiators, Prof H Haragopal, Prof R Someswara Rao and Dandapani Mohanty, said the Maoists would release Krishna and Majhi within the next 48 hours. The rebels sprang a surprise by setting them free much before ther own deadline.
The breakthrough occurred after Ganti Prasadam, a key Maoist, was brought to the Jharpada special jail in Bhubaneswar from Koraput, with whom Haragopal, Rao and Mohanty held two rounds of talks spanning over four hours. Ganti was brought under tight security in a special vehicle and he reached Bhubaneswar early Tuesday morning.
"Now our common responsibility is to defuse the situation. The impasse should not be allowed to continue for long," Ganti said. Indications that the kidnapping drama was nearing end came during the day when the home secretary said, "We are close to the solution."
"We agreed on all 14 issues," Behera told reporters, adding, "Now that all the issues have been resolved, the mediators have given us firm commitment on the safe return of the collector and junior engineer."
Haragopal said, "We are satisfied with the outcome of our mediation," adding that the mediators will now working on the modalities for the hostages` release.
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