BJP expresses concern over rise in Maoist abduction cases

New Delhi, Apr 22 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday expressed concern over the rising number of abduction by the Maoists, calling for concrete action to be taken against them.

Speaking to reporters here BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar described the 'Maoist insurgency' as an urgent national issue to be dealt with.

"BJP is deeply disturbed by the recent spate of Naxal violence and which points to a changed strategy because this has become very urgent issue at the national level. The way they have abducted in Orissa, now the district collector in Chhattisgarh, the way they have abducted the foreign tourist and now targeted even the MLA shows the changed Naxal strategy and this is not a state issue only, we hope that we raise the issue in parliament in days to come," said Javadekar.

In an audacious daylight operation, the Maoists abducted Chattisgarh District Collector Alex Paul Menon of Sukma district, during the middle of a meeting with villagers.

Menon, an IAS officer of 2006 batch, was kidnapped on Saturday from Majhipara village in Keralapal area of the Naxal-infected district.

The kidnapping comes even as uncertainty continues over the fate of Orissa's ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka in neighbouring Odisha who was abducted by the Maoists about a month ago.

Menon, 32, is the first collector of Sukma after it was carved out of Dantewada district as a new district, and was known to be pro-active in undertaking development work in the backward region. (ANI)