Maoists release Krishna, 9-day Orissa hostage crisis ends

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (PTI) After remaining in captivity
for nine days, Malkangiri Collector R V Krishna was released
on Thursday by Maoists, an official said, finally bringing to
an end the tense hostage crisis in the eastern Indian
state of Orissa.
Chitrakonda Tahsildar D Gopalakrishna said Krishna was
released by Maoists this evening and was on his way to his
home in Malkangiri, which is about 90 km from the spot where
the official was freed.
The 30-year-old IIT graduate-turned Indian
Administrative Service officer was released before a "people's
court" by his abductors in a forested area in Jantapai close
to the area where he was abducted along with junior engineer
Pabitra Majhi on February 16, eyewitnesses said. 22-year-old
Majhi was freed on Wednesday.
TV footage showed Krishna in a check shirt and a blue
pant sitting on a boulder with folded hands appearing to be in
good health listening as an unidentified man spoke about the
problems faced by villagers. Malkangiri is about 650 km from
the state capital.
Krishna, who sported an occasional smile, was also seen
eating out his hand from a plate.
Inspector in-charge of Chitrakonda Rajesh Chhatria said
Krishna was released at Jantapai area.
"It is a good end. it is a positive end," said Swami
Agnivesh, a Maoist sympathiser after the end of the hostage
crisis which had a new twist on Wednesday when Maoists made
fresh set of demands raising uncertainty whether the rebels
will honour their commitment made on Tuesday to release the
two abducted men within 48 hours.
The fresh demand was an immediate release of five naxal
leaders. Orissa government had already accepted all the 14
demands made by Naxals.
Prof Hargopal, who was among the Maoist-aoppointed
mediators, appealed to Maoists on Wednesday to release Krishna
by 6 PM this evening.
Hargopal said the Maoists at no stage ever made any
threat to kill Krishna.