Raipur:
Abducted Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon is "safe" but being an asthma patient, he needs medicines, Maoists said on Tuesday night and proposed the name of human rights activist and academic Professor Hargopal as another mediator for talks with the government. The issue can be discussed if the state government comes forward and takes an initiative, the Maoists said in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district.
The Naxals also stuck to their April 25 deadline today set to the Chhattisgarh government to meet their demands in exchange for the freedom of Mr Menon, a 2006-batch IAS officer, who was abducted on April 21. Here are the top 10 developments in the case:
1). Maoists on Tuesday night in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district proposed the name of human rights activist and academic Professor Hargopal as another mediator for talks with the government. Hargopal was one of the mediators in the Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna abduction case.
2). Two days after Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon was abducted, the Chhattisgarh government had named former chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - Nirmala Buch and SK Mishra - as mediators for Mr Menon's release.
3). In a letter on Monday, the Maoists had named three mediators they would be willing to negotiate through. Supreme Court lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan, who refused to take part in any mediation process with the abductors, said on Monday, "In my view, kidnapping a civilian officer and holding him hostage is not right. Maoists should release the officer unconditionally. Most of the demands of the Maoists are justified, but I cannot negotiate with the Maoists in this situation." Former National SC/ST Commission chairperson and ex-Collector of undivided Bastar, BD Sharma and former MLA from Dantewada's Konta district and president of All India Adivasi Mahasabha, Manish Kunjam, were reportedly reluctant to negotiate with the Maoists.
4). A missive was issued by the Maoists to the Chhattisgarh government on Tuesday morning stating: "It's our appeal to Mrs Asha Paul Menon, his friends, family and IAS officers that Mr Alex Paul Menon's health is very critical. It's our request to please send his medicines from the mediators. The delay being caused by the officials is responsible for his bad health and if something happens, it will be the government's responsibility." Mr Menon's wife, Asha, said she had dispatched necessary medicines and clothes for her husband through Manish Kunjam. She has refused to leave Sukma till her husband is home and has asked the people to pray for him.
5). The Maoists have demanded the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from Bastar, the release of eight of their jailed leaders, a halt to the anti-Naxal offensive, Operation Green Hunt, and sending security forces in Bastar to the barracks in return for freeing the Collector. They have set a deadline of April 25, today, for complying with these conditions. After Mr Menon's abduction, the forces have suspended anti-Maoist operations in the Bastar region.
6). Mr Menon was abducted on Saturday April 21. About 500 Maoists are said to be holding him captive in the south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Sources said security forces now know the exact location of the Collector and operations have been called off temporarily to avoid any confrontation with the Maoists.
7). The Left ultras had kidnapped Alex Paul Menon from a remote village where he was attending the Gram Suraj Abhiyaan - a state government-run programme - to promote greater coordination and connect between the villagers and the administration. They also killed two of his security personnel when they resisted his abduction.
8). His wife, who had already appealed to the Maoists for releasing him on health grounds, said on Sunday, "Maoists have given their demands. We have to be courageous, patient. Concerned people are in a meeting, deciding Maoists' request." The Chhattisgarh Police had, earlier in the day, claimed to have received information that he is safe.
9). Sources have told NDTV that the Collector had ignored repeated warnings by the police that he could be kidnapped. Mr Menon was told to take proper precautions and avoid moving around without adequate security as there were clear indications that he could be abducted. Despite the warnings, he decided to go ahead with his meeting with a group of villagers for the Gram Suraj Abhiyaan without informing the local police, sources added. The Collector's family had said on Saturday that he was aware of the threat of a possible kidnapping of officials in the region. But it never deterred him from rising to the call of duty.
10). Immediately after the abduction, the Chhattisgarh government set up a five-member team to negotiate with the Maoists who have kidnapped Mr Menon; Chief Minister Raman Singh heads the team, which includes Home Minister Nankiram Kunvar, PWD Minister Brij Mohan Agarwal, Rural Development Minister Ram Vichar and Kedar Kashyap, another minister. Chief Minister Raman Singh made it clear on Monday saying, "The collector will have to be released. The government is willing to speak to the Maoists about their demands only after he is released."