Chhattisgarh: Naxals release kidnapped peace marchers

Raipur: Three MBA students from Pune in Maharashtra who were abducted by Maoists on December 28 at Tarem under Basaguda police station in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar district of Bijapur while they were on a bicycle expedition to cover Naxal-infested regions in the country to spread message of peace, were on Sunday set free.

“The three youths were released by Naxals in Timmapuram forest under Jagargunda police limits in south Bastar district of Sukma on January 2. They reached the CRPF camp at Chintalnar on Sunday mid noon after passing through several villages”, Sukma additional superintendent of police (ASP) (Naxal operation) Santosh Singh told this newspaper.

Bastar inspector general of police S.R. Kalluri later told reporters that the release of the three youths, identified as Adarsh Patil, Vilash Valake, and Shrikrishna Sevalare, could be secured following intense negotiations with Naxals by security forces with the help of local villagers.

Dreaded Maoist leader Papa Rao, active in Basaguda area, was believed to have masterminded the abduction, he added.

The three youths set out their cycle rally from Pune on December 22 and reached Bijapur district via Gadchhiroli in Maharashtra six days later.

“The CRPF personnel stopped the youths advised them not to proceed further due to threats from Maoists. But, they paid no heed the warnings by security forces”, Mr Singh said.

Police sources said the three youths were picked by local villagers, alleged Naxal sympathisers.

“They are currently in a state of shock and not in a position to narrate their ordeals,” Mr Kalluri said.