MAOISTS SEEK RELEASE OF 8 PRISONERS TO FREE COLLECTOR ALEX PAUL MENON

MAOISTS SEEK RELEASE OF 8 PRISONERS TO FREE COLLECTOR ALEX PAUL MENON

In a fresh demand, the Maoists who have abducted Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon on Monday sought release of eight of their jailed associates by May 2 in exchange for freeing the IAS officer.In a message sent to the local media, the Maoists said that they would release Mr. Menon if the government sends eight of the jailed workers along with mediators B.D. Sharma and Prof. Hargopal on May 2 to the Tadmetla village.If the demand was not met, Mr. Menon’s fate would be decided by a Jan Adalat (People’s Court), they said.

The faxed message, signed by Ganesh Uike, secretary South Regional Committee of CPI (Maoist), also said that the collector is in the custody of People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) and is being treated as a “prisoner of war.”The 32-year-old IAS officer was abducted on April 21. (Chhattisgarh Maoists)

                                                                    Prof. John Kurakar