After 12 days, Maoists release 4 abducted cops
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After remaining in captivity for 12 days, four policemen walked free late on Thursday night as the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) handed over their hostages to Sahara Samay journalists. "The Maoists handed over their hostages in the forests between Madded and Bijapur to journalists belonging to TV channel Sahara Samay. They are on their way to Dantewada," said Senior Superintendent of Police of Dantewada, S R P Kalluri.
The hostages were handed over to two journalists — one of them, Bappy Ray was involved in talks with the Maoists for securing the safe release of the hostages. Last night it was these journalists who confirmed that all the hostages were safe.
The chances of release of policemen became bright after their relatives travelled all the way to Hyderabad from Bijapur and met Maoist ideologue Varavara Rao, who issued an appeal to the rebels not to harm them and release them.
Police sources said all of them were scheduled to arrive at Dantewada late in the night.
Reacting to the development, CM Raman Singh said, "I am happy that all of them have been released"
Assistant Sub-Inspector Sukhruram Bhagat, Constables B Toppo, Subhash Ratre and Narendra Bhosle were abducted by the rebels on September 1. For almost a week, there was no information about these policemen till the Maoists dropped leaflets near Bhopalpattanam, setting a 48-hour deadline for accepting their demands. But even two days after the deadline expired, the rebels did not release their hostages.
Maoist commander Yogesh told a group of three journalists, who visited a hideout of the rebels at an undisclosed destination last night, that they would release their hostages within a day or two on humanitarian grounds and considering the fact that these policemen belonged to poor families.
Bhagwadas, brother of Narendra Bhosle, who has been camping at South Bastar since September 20, said, "I have no words to express our happiness. Families of these policemen are very eager to see them as soon as possible."
... contd.
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