Chhattisgarh: Maoists kill one villager, release around 300 other hostages

According to PTI reports, one of the hostages seized by Naxals in Chhatisgarh has been killed, while others have been released.

“The rebels killed one villager identified as Sadaram who used to coordinate the construction activities of a bridge. He was killed in a “Jan Adalat” (kangaroo court) held by Maoists. Around 300 tribals returned to their village at around 9 pm”, Sukma district police chief D Sharawan told Hindustan Times.

A hostage situation began on Friday night in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh where around 250 villagers were seized by Maoist rebels on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to neighbouring Dantewada.

Chief Minister Raman Singh said earlier that anywhere between 200 and 250 villagers were abducted by the Naxals from a few villages in Sukma district and efforts were being made by the local administration for their release.

"Around 200-250 villagers have been abducted and 4-5 others (locals) are negotiating their release," Singh told journalists after conflicting claims were made by police officials on the number of villagers kidnapped by the ultras.

"There is no confusion....The local administration is making efforts for their release," he said. Earlier, Additional Superintendent of Police, Sukma, Harish Rathore said anywhere between 400 and 500 villagers were "taken away" to the jungles by the rebels opposing construction of a bridge, while Inspector General of Police, Bastar region, R P Kalluri, called it a "fiction" created by the media.

An unspecified number of Maoist guerrillas had swooped down on Marenga and some adjoining villages within the Tongpal police stations limits and herded the villagers to the nearby forest.

Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Chhattisgarh on Saturday, there were reports of Naxals holding at least 200-500 villagers hostage in Marenga in Sukma district which is 60 kms from Dantewada. 

RP Kalluri, IG Bastar Range had earlier told PTI, "The hostage situation is a fiction created by the media....Yesterday, some Maoists came to the village where bridge construction is underway and they have taken five-six labourers who were working on the bridge. As a usual practice, some villagers of Marenga and nearby villagers have gone to the jungle to speak to the Maoists, negotiate and bring these five-six labourers back...but reports of 500-600 villagers held by Maoists is total fiction," he said.

PM Modi reached Dantewada on Saturday and held a meeting with the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. He also addressed students at Education City.

Modi addressed a public meeting and is scheduled to interact with children and youth from tribal communities. The MoUs related to two mega infrastructure projects ultra mega steel plant and extension of second phase of Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line will also be signed in the Prime Minister's presence.

Security has been stepped up in the state ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit. A multi-layered security cover has been put in place in Bastar region. More than 10,000 personnel of the CRPF, Special Task Force (STF), state police and the anti-naxalite wing have been deployed in view of the Prime Minister's visit.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have also been deployed for aerial surveillance. Meanwhile, the Maoists have called for a shutdown on Saturday.