Maoists to release abducted Sukma collector today

After nearly two weeks of hectic parleys, abducted Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon is set to be released on Thursday. A Chhattisgarh government chopper on Thursday morning left Raipur for Tarmetla, where Maoist guerillas are expected to release kidnapped Sukma district collector Alex Paul


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Menon, state govermment sources said.
The chopper is carrying mediators G. Hargopal and B.D. Sharma, who are scheduled to receive Menon in Tarmetla, around 500 km from Raipur.

Menon is expected to be released in the afternoon.

In a message to media organisations on Wednesday, the rebels said Menon, in their captivity since April 21, would be handed over to Hargopal and Sharma in the presence of a gathering at Tarmetla.

Tarmetla in Sukma is where the Maoists had killed 76 paramilitary personnel in April 2010.

In an SMS message to media organisations late on Tuesday, Maoists said Menon, who has been held by them since April 21, would be handed over to mediators G Hargopal and BD Sharma “in front of the people” at Tadmetla in south Bastar.

The Maoist and government mediators on Wednesday signed a two-page agreement.

Under the pact, the government has agreed to set up a committee headed by Nirmala Buch, one of the two government mediators, to review the cases of all prisoners in Chhattisgarh jails, including those demanded by the Maoists.

Hargopal said he hoped the state would act on its assurances soon after Menon’s release.