Security officials deny there is a hostage situation due to PM Modi's visit.
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.
However, conflicting reports have emerged about the alleged hostage situation. Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police, Harish Rathore told PTI that a large number of armed cadres stormed into Marenga and adjoining villages under the restive Tongpal police station limits late last night and took away 400-500 villagers, including women and children. But some security officials have said that the villagers had gone to negotiate the release of five-six labourers who were taken by the Naxals as they were opposed to them working on the construction of a bridge in the area.
RP Kalluri, IG Bastar Range 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.
With agency inputs
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