The banned Communist Party of India (Maoists) released a statement on Wednesday saying that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commando who had gone missing in the April 3 encounter in Chhattisgarh was in their custody.
The organization further said that the state government would announce a mediator and only then they would release the CRPF commando to the mediator.
The Chhattisgarh police have confirmed that the “letter is genuine.”
Speaking to a news agency, Bastar Inspector General (IG) P Sunderraj said, “In reference to the Naxal Attack that took place on April 3, the jawan of CoBRA namely Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, was abducted by Naxals and is in their captivity now. The search operations are underway.”
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is a unit of the CRPF.
“Meanwhile, we have received a letter from the Maoists and have a brief idea about him. We have confirmed the authentication of the letter. We are closely looking into the matter,” Sunderraj said.
The 2-page statement in Telugu signed by “Vikalp” on behalf of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists said 2,000 policemen had attacked them and that four People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) cadres were killed in the encounter at Tarrem on April 3.
It added that they had also taken away 14 weapons, over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and other items belonging to the security personnel.
Surjitt Sahani
