Abducted Chhattisgarh Collector's wife appeals to Maoists for his release

Sukma/Raipur, Apr 22 (ANI): Asha Menon, the wife of abducted District Collector Alex Paul Menon, has appealed to the Maoists to release her husband at the earliest on humanitarian grounds.

The abducted official's wife said that her husband was not in good health and needed certain medication.

"My husband's health condition is not well, as he is also an asthmatic patient; so I would request the government and Naxals to understand that he has only two dosage of medicine which is not sufficient. If an emergency situation arises he would not be able to cope," said Asha Menon.

"Since my husband has done so much for the development of the district, so my only appeal to the Maoists is to release my husband at the earliest," she added.

Asha Menon also requested the government to leave no stones unturned for the early and safe return of her husband.

"I would also request the government to be supportive in this regard," she said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Police (DGP), Anil .M Navani, gave details of the abducted official's kidnapping by the ultras.

"He was carrying out some inspection there when about 15 Maoists came there and shot two of his constables, one of whom is dead and the other was injured. One body has been recovered, but as per unconfirmed reports the second guard has also been killed. So, about 15 Maoists have kidnapped and left with him (Alex Paul Menon)," he said.

Navani further said that the state police was combing the area where the kidnapping occurred and was also taking assistance from the neighbouring states.

"We have currently deployed security personnel at Keralapal and alerted the Central Reserve Police Force. We have spoken to the top police brass of the surrounding regions of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa other than preparing a strategy for our own state area," said Navani.

"We would not like to disclose the strategy for the state level preparations but we have alerted the forces at all strategic places. We would be able to provide the details of the incident only after the arrival of the Sub Divisional Magistrate," he added.

The Maoist abducted the 2006 batch officer IAS officer from Majhipara village in Keralapal area of Naxal-hit district on Saturday while he was returning from a panchayat programme. Two of his security guards were killed in the incident.

Alex Menon, 32, is the first Collector of Sukma after it was carved out of Dantewada district as a new district. (ANI)