Naxals extend deadline for releasing abducted Chhattisgarh cops

RAIPUR - Maoists on Tuesday night extended the 48-hours-long deadline by another 24 hours for the release of four policemen held captive by them in the jungles of Chhattisgarh.

In exchange of the four policemen the Maoists had earlier set a deadline of 48 hours to consider their demands that included calling off Operation Greenhunt, release of jailed cadres, immediate halt to police action and initiation of peace talks.

The four policemen are assistant sub-inspector Sukhruram Bhagat, constables Narendra Bhosale, Subhash Patre and B Toppo.

Seven policemen were abducted by Naxals on September 19 from Bhopalpatnam near Chhattisgarh-Andhra border.

The bodies of three policemen were recovered a day later from a dense forest in Bijapur District of the Bastar region.

Meanwhile, the Sate government expressed confidence that it would be to secure safe release of the policemen.

A joint team from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh comprising local media and social activists are holding talks with the Naxals, State officials said.

On August 29, Maoists took captive four policemen in Bihar when a police party went to raid their hideout in a deep jungle.

Seven policemen died in the encounter. They released the cops after nine days, but not before they killed one of them, Lucas Tete.

Chhattisgarh and Bihar are among half a dozen worst hit states by Maoists’ violence. (ANI)