Chhattisgarh Collector kidnapped: Maoists make demands for his release, set April 25 deadline

Sukma:  A day after abducting a collector from Sukma in Chhattisgarh, Maoists have made demands for his release and have set a deadline of April 25 for complying with those conditions.

The Left ultras had kidnapped Alex Paul Menon in a remote village where he was attending theGram Suraj Abhiyaan - a state government-run programme meant to promote greater coordination and connect between the villagers and administration. They also killed two of his security personnel when they resisted his abduction.

The Maoists have demanded the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from Bastar and a halt to Operation Green Hunt at large in return for freeing the 32-year-old Collector.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Police, which has launched an intensive search operation for Mr Menon, has received information that he is safe. The police had, earlier in the day, claimed to have got some vital clues in connection with the Collector's abduction, the details of which they refused to divulge. Additional Director General of Police (anti-Naxal operations) Ram Nivas said that officials who had taken part in the government outreach programme at the Majhipara village were quizzed. But, the cops still do not have any clue about his whereabouts. 

Sources have also told NDTV that the Collector had ignored repeated warnings by the police that he could be kidnapped. Mr Menon was told to take proper precautions and avoid moving around without adequate security as there were clear indications that he could be abducted, sources said. Despite the warnings, he decided to go ahead with his meeting with a group of villagers for the Gram Suraj Abhiyaan without informing the local police, sources added.