Was Sukma collector’s abduction part of a larger plot?

Sunday’s abduction of Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon may have been part of a larger plot to abduct more collectors, according to the latest media reports.

The Times Now channel quoting sources, said that the Dantewada Collector Om Prakash Choudhry was also scheduled to be abducted by the Maoists. The plot was apparently foiled however, because Choudhry did not go on an inspection tour as scheduled.

The Chhattisgarh state government has called for an All Party meet in the wake of Menon’s abduction and has also formed a five-member committee in a bid to get him back.

A family photograph of Alex Paul Menon: AFP

Maoists on Sunday demanded the release of eight of their jailed leaders in Chattisgarh and a halt to “Operation Green Hunt” targeting them in exchange for the release of Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon.

Additional Director General of Police Ram Nivas (anti- Naxal operations) told reporters that the demands had been made by an unidentified Naxal leader in an audio message to media organisations. The authenticity of the audio tape was being verified, he said, adding that no Maoist group has conveyed the demands directly to the state government.

According to Nivas, the Naxalites demanded an immediate end to “Operation Green Hunt”(the anti-Maoist operations), the release of eight jailed Maoist leaders, including two women, and the return to barracks of security forces in Bastar region. In the message, the Maoist leader alleged that false cases had been foisted against the eight jailed ultras.

Menon was abducted at the Gram Suraj Abhiyan program at Majhipara village in Sukma District.

According to the officials present, some 50 ultras, including women, approached the spot where the program was underway, and took away Mr Menon after shooting two of his guards dead.

They first shot guard Kishun Kujur. Another guard, Amjad Khan, returned fire, in which one of the Naxals was reportedly killed, while Khan too died in the exchange of fire.

According to Mr Ram Nivas, police suspect that this was an operation of the ‘Military’ dalam of the Naxals, and most of those who took part in the operation were from Chhattisgarh.