Maoists expected to release Chhattisgarh cops Tuesday night

Raipur : As the deadline set by Maoists for releasing four abducted Chhattisgarh cops if their (Maoists) demands are met ends later on Tuesday, the state government said it was confident of securing the safe release of its policemen.

Reports, quoting government sources, said ?positive? talks were on with the Maoists and the four policemen are likely to be released late on Tuesday.

The cops were abducted, along with three more policemen, from Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, bordering Andhra Pradesh, on September 19.

The bodies of three cops were recovered later, while the Maoists placed certain demands against the safe release of the policemen in captivity.

The state government sources claimed that talks were on with the abductors through media and social activists, and going by the indications received from the Maoists, they are likely to release the cops unharmed on Tuesday night.

The abducted cops are Assistant Sub-Inspector Sukhruram Bhagat, constables Narendra Bhosale, Subhash Patre and B Toppo — released, state officials said.

The Maosits demands includes halt of security forces? operation against the Maoists, release of villagers arrested for unlawful activities and judicial probe into alleged fake encounters.