Two abducted Chhattisgarh cops released

RAIPUR - Two Chhattisgarh policemen, abducted by Maoists Nov 8, have been safely released, police said Saturday. The rebels, however, kept the two cops’ weapons and ammunition.

“Maoists have released both the cops - Khemchand Sahu and Jitendra Patel - unharmed,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar) T.J. Longkumer told IANS. But he refused to comment whether police conceded the demands of the Maoists.

A military unit of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) had set the condition that several local people who were in police custody after allegedly being labelled as Maoists, should be released if the government wanted to get safe release of the abducted policemen.

Longkumer added that the two policemen were released at a forested location in Antagarh in Kanker district and later brought to Narayanpur district where police officers had sent them for a mandatory health check-up.