Naxals release 3 abducted youths

Three youths from Pune, who were allegedly abducted by Naxals while they were on a bicycle rally to spread the message of peace, have been released by the rebels in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, the police said. “The youths have been released and they safely reached Chintalnar camp of police,” Inspector general of police, Bastar Range, S.R.P. Kalluri said. The three youths —identified as Aadarsh Patil, Vilas Valake and Shrikirhna Shevale — were abducted from Basaguda area of the neighbouring Bijapur district and kept at Timmapuram village forests near Chinger in Jagargunda police station limits under the custody of Maoist commander Papa Rao, Mr Kalluri said.

After getting news of the abduction, police had suspended all anti-Naxal operations in south Bastar, he said. Later, the police located the whereabouts of the three youths following which talks were held with the abductors through various means to secure their safe release, he said. But he did not reveal details about the negotiations with the abductors.

The youths on December 20 launched a cycle rally from Pune under their “Bharat Jodo” (Link India) campaign to propagate the message of peace in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, the states worst affected by Naxalism over the past three decades, he said. They were passing through several places of the state and Chhattisgarh when they were abducted by the extremists in Bijapur a few days ago when they were going to conclude their rally in Orissa on Jan. 10, he said.