Malkangiri: Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna has been released by the Naxals after nine days in captivity. Krishna was released on Thursday evening in Doli Amba village of Malkangiri district by the Naxals. Krishna, a 2005 batch IAS officer, is reported to be in good health.
The Naxals released Krishna after the mediators involved in talks between the Orissa government and the rebels issued an appeal to set free the IAS officer immediately. Junior engineer Pabitra Majhi, abducted along with Krishna on February 16, had been released by the Naxals on Wednesday and the rebels put forward new demands to set the District Collector free.
"We have got this confirmation that he has been released. He was handed over to the villagers. If Orissa government wants him in Bhubaneshwar we will take him there tomorrow (Friday). They (Naxals) wanted the release of tribals and release of some leaders. The tribals have been released and the bail petition of their leaders is coming in the court tomorrow. There are no serious charges so they are likely to be released," said Professor G Haragopal, one of the mediators who were involved in securing the release of Krishna.
Earlier, Haragopal along with another mediator Dandapani Mohanty reached Koraput to work out the modalities of Krishna's release with the Naxals after the rebels did not release Krishna along with junior engineer Pabitra Majhi and put forward new demands.
Biju Janata Dal MP Jay Panda credited the state government for handling the hostage crisis with maturity.
"Orissa government handled the situation with maturity. It should be appreciated. I have confirmation that the collector has been released. I have no details about his health but I am told he is well," said Panda.
Panda, however, refused to comments on the Naxal demands that the state government agrred to.
"I won't make any comment on the demands. Some of the demands were acceptable to the government. In some of the cases people in the jails have been released by the court. The government has not compromised. Had anything wrong happened it would have sent a wrong message to the government officials working in such sensitive area. Our first priority is to make sure that the collector is back safely," he said.
Krishna and Majhi were kidnapped from Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district. Majhi was released in Janatai village from where he crossed the Janvai River and came to Chitrakonda.
The junior engineer was freed after Orissa government gave in to nearly 14 demands of the Naxals.
But negotiators made it clear that some of the demands put forward by the Naxals cannot be met, including their traveling to the Malkangiri forests along with freed Naxal leaders to secure release of Krishna in exchange.
After abducting the duo the Naxals gave a deadline of 48 hours which was extended after appeals from Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
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