Abducted cops’ families appeal for freedom, Maoists mum

RAIPUR - The families of the five policemen abducted by Maoists three days ago in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district rushed to restive Bastar region Friday and appealed to the Maoists through media to release them as they belonged to very poor families.

Besides the policemen, a civilian was also abducted. All six have remained untraced despite extensive search operations while the guerrillas maintained silence, not making any demands in exchange for their release, police said.

“Police search parties combed several forested locations in Narayanpur district where rebels could have kept our jawans hostage but nothing was found, no trace at all. They (the Maoists) have also not put up any demand so far…I hope the abducted people are safe,” Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Mayank Srivastava told IANS over phone.

Armed Maoists stopped a passenger bus Tuesday in Narayanpur district, which is in the restive Bastar region, and abducted five personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) besides a civilian.

The policemen, who were unarmed and not in police uniform, were en-route to district headquarters Narayanpur from their posting in an interior area after being granted leave.

Officials at the police headquarters here say that the Maoists have probably kept the abducted people at their hideouts at Abujhmad in Narayanpur district where police cannot even think of entering as it is protected by multiple layers of landmines.

Abujhmad is one of India’s most densely forested areas where some policemen say even the sun’s rays barely touch the ground.