Raipur, May 9: A hostage situation is continuing since Friday night in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh where around 250 villagers were seized by Maoist rebels on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to neighbouring Dantewada.
Chief Minister Raman Singh said anywhere between 200 and 250 villagers were abducted by the Naxals from a few villages in Sukma district and administrative efforts were being made for their release.
‘‘There is no confusion….the local administration is making efforts for their release,” Singh told the media.
Earlier, Sukma district additional superintendent of police, Sukma, Harish Rathore said anywhere between 400 and 500 villagers were ‘‘taken away’’ to the jungles by the rebels opposing construction of a bridge, while Bastar region Inspector General of Police RP Kalluri called it a “fiction” created by the media.
Unspecified number of Maoist guerrillas had swooped down on Marenga and some adjoining villages within the Tongpal police stations limits and herded the villagers to the nearby forest.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, who was on a visit to neighbouring Dantewada Saturday, said there was no future for violence in democracy.
The Prime Minister inaugurated a slew of development projects in south Bastar region, worst-hit by the Naxal menance, during his day-long stay in Chhattisgarh.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in Lucknow that the Centre was making efforts for the release of hostages. Security forces are combing the area to secure the release of the abductees.
The Maoists have been opposing construction of a bridge on a river near Marenga that they apprehended would facilitate increased mobility of security forces.
The Maoists, who have called for a boycott of the Prime Minister’s visit and a ‘Dandakaranya Bandh’ Friday and Saturday, went on rampage in parts of Chhattisgarh’s insurgency-hit Bastar region, damaging rail tracks on Kirandul-Visakhapatnam route and blocking roads.
Naxals removed fish-plates between Kakloor-Kumarsakhla villages in Kodenar police station limits in Bastar district Friday night, Police said.
Soon after getting information, security personnel were dispatched to the spot and repair was underway. In view of the bandh, the Railways had already decided not to run passenger and goods trains on Vizag-Kirandul route.
Shed the gun: PM
Dantewada: Making the first prime ministerial visit in three decades to this Maoist hotbed, Narendra Modi Saturday asked the ultras to shed the gun and put an end to mindless deaths in favour of peace. ‘‘Those who feel that whether or not this macabre drama of death will end, I can tell you with full commitment and make you believe that there is no need to get disheartened. This (death) too will stop,’’ he said addressing a public meeting here.
