R Vineel Krishna, the pro-development collector of Orissa’s Malkangiri who was in Maoist captivity for nine days before his release on Thursday, said he would like to continue work in the area if the government wants.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, a day after he was released, a composed Krishna said he was kept in a forested area in the hills and the Maoists had shifted camps.
He said he was not harmed by the rebels and treated well. “They took care,” he said.
To a question on whether he supports swap deals to secure release of government officials from Maoists, he said it depends on the government which takes decisions in larger interests of the people.
“I have no problem continuing here if given an opportunity,” he said, expressing his desire to work for the region where his works endeared him to the tribal people.
He said he was taken hostage from a remote area when he was returning back after supervising some developmental activities.
He said the turning point of his release, which was delayed by the rebels, was when the mediators appealed over radio that Orissa government has accepted their demands and they should not bring in new demands for his freedom.
After nine days of captivity, Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna was set free on Thursday evening by the Maoists, ending a hostage crisis that forced the government to agree for a swap deal.
The other official, junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi , was released on Tuesday night.
Maoists, who were reportedly not happy with the mediators, handed over Krishna to media on Thursday.
Krishna, for whom there was a groundswell of support by the tribals of the region for his developmental work was released in the forests before a “people’s court” at Jantapai.
The area is 90 km from Malkangiri, the district headquarters where the collector lives.
He was released before the TV channels who were invited by the rebels for the coverage.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the governemnt made certain commitments to secure the release but did not bow before the rebels completely.
Maoists chosen mediators brokered the release.