Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (ANI): The nine-day hostage drama came to an end in Orissa with the release of Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna, who was abducted by the Maoists on February 16.
The 30-year-old Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was released by the Maoists in an area called Duliamba in the forests in Chitrakonda District.
After extensive negotiations between the government and the captors, Krishna was meant to be released on Tuesday night along with junior engineer, Pabitra Majhi, who too had been kidnapped from Malkangiri on February 16.
The abductors had put forward new demands for the release of the 2005 batch IAS officer, which were conveyed in a letter sent through Pabitra Majhi, who returned home on Wednesday evening after being released by the Maoists near the Ambadoli village of Chitrakonda District.
Three mediators appointed to interface with the Maoists had earlier been told that Krishna would also be released on Wednesday. But in the letter, the Maoists said they wanted their leaders to be handed over to them in Malkangiri.
The Maoists demanded the release of Ganti Prasadam, who has been granted bail by Orissa High Court. He was arrested in November and charged with sedition. Prasadam's release was at the top of the Maoists' agenda.
The Maoists also wanted Padma, wife of a top rebel leader, to be released. These demands come in addition to other demands that had earlier been put before the Orissa Government.
The Maoists had earlier sent a note through a junior engineer accompanying Krishna demanding immediate halt to Operation Green Hunt and release of jailed Maoists. (ANI)
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