Bhubaneswar: Ten days after his abduction
during an attack on a police station, an assistant sub-
inspector was on Saturday released by Maoists at a forest in
Orissa`s Keonjhar district.
DGP Manmohan Praharaj said Umesh Chandra Marandi was
released at Palaspala forest, about 200 km from here, this
afternoon and he was fine. A local tribal was engaged by
Maoists to escort him through the jungle roads.
"Efforts are on to bring Marandi to the state capital
for a through medical check up," Praharaj told agency.
Marandi was abducted by armed ultras during an attack
on Daitari police station on July 7 night.
Information about Marandi`s release was first passed
on to the media after which police sent a team and an
ambulance to bring him back.
Though the Maoists had set certain conditions for the
release, the state government did not respond to them.
"We came to know about Marandi`s release from the
media," Keonjhar Superintendent of Police Asish Singh said,
adding the ambulance picked up the officer from
Rebana-Palaspala road.
Accompanied by Singh, Marandi was taken to meet his
family members before being sent for medical examination.
Maoist leader Sushil, who informed media persons
regarding release of Marandi said they decided to set him free
as he belonged to the tribal community.
This apart, appeals from different quarters including
one from Shantali Samaj and journalists, were taken into
consideration by CPI-Maoist, Sushil said, adding that Marandi
was also a diabetic.
Maintaining that he was treated well by abductors,
Marandi said he was given food and medicine even inside the
dense jungle where he was kept for 10 days.
Meanwhile, residents of Marandi`s native village at
Suluadhar under Suliapada block in Mayurbhanj district
celebrated his release.
PTI
