Maoists in Orissa release abducted engineer, Malkangiri collector still in custody
Bhubaneshwar: Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna, kidnapped by Maoists, is likely to be released in the next 48 hours, after the Orissa Government conceded to the 14 demands put forward by the rebels. The Maoists had kidnapped Krishna and Junior engineer Pabitra
Mohan Majhi on February 16 near Jantapi village in Malkangiri, and had given the state government a list of 14 demands, which had to be fulfilled in exchange for the two men. Junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi, who was released and returned home on Wednesday evening, told a press conference that the Maoists have given a letter of
demands wanting release of five of their leaders to facilitate the release of the kidnapped
collector. Majhi said Krishna is safe and in good health. However, it is learnt that the
Maoists are also demanding the release of their top leader Sriramalu Srinivasulu now
under trial in Andhra Pradesh. The Maoists' demands included release of all the prisoners
listed by the Maoists, halting anti Maoist operations by security forces, stopping of
'Operation Green Hunt' in the state, compensation for the families of Maoist sympathizers
killed in police custody, among others. Addressing the media persons on Tuesday, Orissa
Home Secretary, U N Behera said: "All the 14 demands raised have been resolved and
the mediators have assured us that the Collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer,
Pabitra Majhi will be back soon. I thank the mediators for helping us out in resolving this
crisis." Prof. G Haragopal, who acted as a mediator for the release of the abducted
government officials, said: "We express our appreciation of the conscience of the Maoists
for the tribals of Orissa, of course they are concerned everywhere but we are talking of
the Maoists of this state. The tribals release was of utmost concern for them."
"We trust that the withdrawal of the cases on tribals on a priority basis will be taken up in
15 days to three months but in 15 days the process will start. We hope the tribals will get
relief and will be back in their habitats," he added. Krishna and Majhi were expected to
reach Malkangiri late on Tuesday or Wednesday morning, somewhere near Balimela
reservoir anidst a gathering of administrative officials, well wishers and local people.
