Kidnapped by Maoists in Orissa, ASI's fate still unknown

The fate of assistant sub-inspector of police Umesh Chandra Marandi kidnapped by Maoists on July 7 during an attack on the Daitari police station in Orissa's Keonjhar district, remains unknown.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also in-charge of the home department, had yesterday said that that steps were being taken to trace Marandi, but a senior official in his office today said, "the chief minister will not speak on the Marandi issue."

A senior home department official said "Please do not ask us. We cannot say anything on the matter."

Marandi's sister-in-law Sita had wanted to know from the state government through the media whether the ASI was dead or alive.

"We have no information about Marandi. Whatever, information we receive, it comes from media," Sita said.

"Please ensure release of our brother," Sita told reporters.

Meanwhile, sources said that though the police was collecting information on Marandi by using local tribals and forest officials, it had failed to achieve a breakthrough.

Maoists have given two demands for the release of the ASI. They have asked the government to release 68 persons charged with having links to them released from jail.

The Maoist have also demanded that the state government stop 'atrocities' on the people at Kalinga Nagar industrial complex in Jajpur district in the name of industrialisation.