Orissa collector will be freed in 48 hours: Released engineer
By IANSWednesday, February 23, 2011
MALKANGIRI - Orissa junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi, who was freed by Maoists Wednesday, said that Malkangiri District Collector R. Vineel Krishna was safe and the rebels will free him within 48 hours.
“He (collector) is safe and is still in the cut-off area. I do not know the exact location. The Maoists said they’ll release him within 48 hours,” Majhi said at a press conference here.
“They fed us rice and dal and were being moved from one place to another,” he added.
Junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi was released from the same Chitrakonda area, about 700 km from this city, from where he had been kidnapped along with district collector R. Vineel Krishna Feb 16, sending shockwaves across the country .
People from various walks of life, including women, children and mediapersons thronged the official residence of the district collector at Malkangiri town, 700 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
The Maoists, in a letter to the government, listed as many as 14 demands for the safe release of the two hostages.
The government agreed to all the demands after holding negotiations for three days in state capital Bhubaneswar with the three mediators - Mohanty and academicians Haragopal and R. Someswar Rao, all chosen by Maoists.
The release of the junior engineer came after Haragopal said Tuesday night that both the hostages will be released within 48 hours. Thousands of people in Orissa Wednesday anxiously awaited the arrival of Krishna.
