Maoist don't work under one umbrella, claims senior journalist

New Delhi/Raipur, Apr 30 (ANI): Describing the recent Maoist abductions by the Maoists as the work of different rebel groups, a senior journalist and columnist Anil Anand has claimed that the Maoists are not organized and don't work under one umbrella.

He also said the government should not unilaterally accept their demands as there was no guarantee that they would release hostages in their captivity.

"They (Maoists) are not organized and do not work under one umbrella organization. If you go for a settlement with one group then others will cause problems. The recent incidents of kidnappings are the work of different Maoist groups. I believe it is not correct to meet all their demands as there is no guarantee that they will release the hostage even if their demands are fulfilled," said Anand.

He described abducted Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon a dedicated IAS (Indian Administration Service) officer, who was doing good work in Naxal-affected areas and was trying to reach people in the interior areas.

"The district collector kidnapped by the Naxals has a good public image. He was doing good work in Naxal-affected areas like many other officers in security forces, civil administrative and NGOs. The officer is among those who are trying to reach out to people in the interior areas," said Anand.

Anand also added that the main aim of the Maoists was to make money through blackmail, as developmental activities in the affected areas would affect their functioning.

"The main aim of the Maoists is make money through blackmail. They believe that if the road infrastructure improves and poverty is reduced, then their business will be affected," he said.

In an audacious operation, Maoist rebels had abducted Alex Paul Menon, an IAS officer of 2006 batch, on April 21 from the middle of a meeting with villagers from Majhipara village in Keralapal area of the Naxal-infected district.

Menon is the first collector of the newly-created Sukma district and was known to be pro-active in undertaking development work in the backward region.

The Naxals have demanded the release of their eight colleagues: Markam Gopanna alias Satyam Reddy, Nirmal Akka alias Vijay Laxmi, Devpal Chandrashekhar Reddy, Shantipriya Reddy, Meena Choudhari, Korsa Sunny, Markam Sunny and Asit Kumar Sen, in return of Menon's release. (ANI)