Post News Network
Koraput, Oct 16: Three Telegu Desam Party (TDP) leaders held hostage by Maoists after their abduction from Vijayanagaram in Andhra Pradesh bordering Koraput October 6 were conditionally released by the ultras in the wee hours of Thursday.
District block president M Balaya, district executive committee member M Mahesh and former sarpanch V Balaya had been abducted from Kunkumapodi village bordering Koraput. They were held hostage for nine days after their abduction.
The ultras released them in Chitrakonda jungle at about 6 am asking them not to support the bauxite mining carried out on the fringes of Pottangi in Koraput district. The ultras did not harm them during their captivity,
they said.
The abducted leaders during captivity were brought face-to- face with residents at a ‘praja court’ by the ultras where they were told about the hazards of ongoing bauxite mining. They were asked to oppose the mining as it pollutes the environment and creates drinking water problem in the area.
Notably, the three TDP leaders were kidnapped from Kunkumapodi village bordering Koraput October 6 and were held in captivity at various locations in Chitrakonda of Malkangiri district and in Pottangi of Koraput district.
It was suspected that ultras belonging to Andhra and Orissa zonal committee might have carried out the abduction. It was apprehended that Andhra government’s nod to bauxite mining in the border areas might snowball into a large movement with the tacit support of the ultras.
