Maoists extend deadline for collector(Vineel Krishna)’s release

Bhubaneshwar : The Maoists in Orissa holding in captivity the Malkangiri district collector R. V. Krishna and junior engineer Pavitra Majhi have extended the deadline of the release, media reports said.

The Maoists took this decision after responding to the calls of the government for negotiations.

Media reports said that it was a senior member of Andhra-Orissa Border Zonal Committee (AOBZC) of Maoists who told a section of the media in the state capital on Friday about their plans of extending the deadline.

The Maoists have abducted Krishna along with Majhi while he was returning home at Gumma block with an ultimatum for withdrawal of central para-military forces in Orissa.

This was first such kidnapping of an IAS official in Orissa.

The Maoists have been demanding withdrawal of Central forces and release of their jailed leaders.

The 30-year-old government officer along with a junior official went to Chitrakonda area, a Maoist bastion, some 90 kms from Kalkangiri headquarters, for some work related to local development programmes.

The Maoists, however, let go free another junior engineer, with a hand written note giving an ultimatum of 48 hours to fulfil them demands for the release of the Collector.