Indian Express

Maoists tell abducted cops to quit job

Source :http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoists-tell-abducted-cops-to-quit-job/749212/

 

Joseph John Posted online: Sat Feb 12 2011, 10:52 hrs

Raipur : Maosist had produced five abducted policemen before a well attended ‘Jan Adalat” — Peoples’ Court of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) — which ‘directed’ them to quit the force before the Naxalites handed them over to social activist Swami Agnivesh late on Friday in the forests of Dhaodai in Abujmarh hills in Narayanpur district in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

Nearly 2000 people, mostly villagers from the area, were present in the Jan Adalat where the rebels produced five policemen. Social activist Swamy Agnivesh, rights activist Gautam Navlakha, PUCL secretary Kavita Shrivastava and others, relatives of abducted policemen, and television crew reached “people’s court” after trekking through the forests with hilly and rocky terrain.

Three head constables Ramadhar Patel, Raghunandan  Dhurv, T Ekka and constables Ranjan Dubey and Manishankar Dubey—all from the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF)—had remained in Maoist captivity for 18 days after they were abducted by the rebels on January 25.

After the rebels handed over their hostages, they reached Narayanpur district headquarters late in the night where the police and district administration took custody of five policemen, though Swami Agnivesh insisted that they should be allowed to proceed to the state capital along with him. However, the administration wanted them to be sent for medical examination before allowing them to proceed to their native villages.

“It’s time for the government to go in for talks with the Maoists.  If the government can hold peace talks with separatists and militants, why not with the Naxalites?” Swamy Agnivesh told media in Narayanpur, before leaving for the state capital last night. He also hinted that the Naxalites were ready for a 72 hour cease fire as a prelude for peace talks.

When contacted, Swami Agnivesh told the Indian Express over telephone  “I will explain everything at a press conference later in the day, after the policemen reaches the state capital. In fact, I wanted to bring them to Raipur but the Narayanpur superintendent of police Mayank Shrivastav did not allow”.