Raipur, April 22
Maoists today demanded the release of eight of their jailed leaders in Chhattisgarh and a halt to Operation Green Hunt in exchange for the freedom of Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon, who was safe, a day after he was abducted. They also set an April 25 deadline for fulfilling their demands.

The demands were made even as spiritual leader Swami Agnivesh expressed his willingness to mediate between the Naxals and the government to secure the release of the 32-year-old 2006-batch IAS officer abducted yesterday at Majhipara village in Raipur district where he was meeting villagers for a government outreach programme.

Additional Director General of Police Ram Nivas (anti- Naxal operations) told reporters that the demands were made by an unidentified Naxal leader in an audio message to media organisations. The authenticity of the audio tape was being verified, he said, adding no Maoist group had got in touch yet with the state government.

According to Nivas, the demands made were an immediate halt to Operation Green Hunt (anti-Maoist offensive), sending security forces in Bastar region back to the barracks and release of eight jailed Maoist leaders, including two women. In the message, the Maoist leader has alleged that false cases have been foisted against the eight ultras.

Nivas said police had picked some vital clues and added that Menon was safe. Swami Agnivesh told PTI he was ready to mediate and was waiting for the government or the Naxals to approach him.

Menon's wife Asha, in a fresh appeal, said the Naxals should release her husband as he had always worked for the people. She said that Menon had some health problems and was not carrying his medicines. "He is asthmatic and I request the government and the Naxals to understand that he is just left with two doses of medication," she said, adding that he would not be able to cope up with in case of an emergency.

The Association of IAS Officers in Chattisgarh held a meeting here today and appealed to the ultras to release the Collector unharmed.

Locals in the area where Menon was kidnapped took out a peace march to demand his release. A large number of people, including school children, participated.

Senior state police officials told PTI they have received information that the Naxal leaders approached some mediapersons to give their statements about their demands.

According to the officials, the Naxals have demanded the release of eight colleagues: Markam Gopanna alias Satyam Reddy, Nirmal Akka alias Vijay Laxmi, Devpal Chandrashekhar Reddy, Shantipriya Reddy, Meena Choudhari, Korsa Sunny, Markam Sunny and Asit Kumar Sen.

The Naxals have set a deadline of April 25 before the government, after which, they would take a decision about the abducted Collector in a Jan Adalat, they added. — PTI