HYDERABAD(PTN): The outlawed peoples war group (PWG) naxalites, who are holding Congress-I Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)P.Bala Raju and five others as hostages, have set Up a fresh deadline until Feb.3 for the release of three of their associates, according to reports received here Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a report from New Delhi said President Dr.Shankar Dayal Sharma Tuesday cancelled his two day visit to the southern State of Andhra Pradesh from Wednesday.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan (President House) spokesman said the decision has been taken with a view not to burden the state government for making arrangements for the presidential visit as this “sensitive juncture.”
Earlier, the government of Andhra Pradesh said it was exploring various means to free the hostages from the outlawed PWG naxalites.
An official spokesman said the inspector general of police (IGP, law and order) who has been stationed in Narsipatnam area in Visakhapatnam district, has conveyed to the militants the government’s assurance of safety to naxalites if they free the kidnapped people unharmed.
The abductors, who have been keeping the legislator and the officials in a forest near Koyyur, have been demanding the release of three of their associates and had set a deadline threatening to kill them if their demand was not met.
Even as the deadline expired Monday, the state govt. steeped up its efforts by repeatedly assuring naxalites of their safety to get the captives free.
Of the 10 abducted, naxalites set free an Indian administrative service officer, Srinivasulu and two Others to send their messages across the govt. One had escaped from their clutches.
To keep the channels of communication with naxalities open, the govt, deputed M.Satyanarayana, Mandal development officer, and Rama Murthy, assistant project officer, as negotiators on its behalf.
The two officers, who were earlier, abducted along with the legislator and others and released later to convey the Naxalites’ demand to the govt., have already started functioning at Koyyur,
An informal cabinet meeting was held here Tuesday to review the situation. The meeting hoped that the extremists would release Balaraju and others immediately since the govt. had assured safety of the Ultras and had kept the channels of communication with them open.
According to a govt. spokesman, of the three, including Kranthi Ranadiveandhis wife Anala, who the naxalites claimed are in Warangal jail, only two are there and Anala is not in custody. The jailed Naxal Ranadive is also reluctant to get himself released and join the naxalite movement, it was stated.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 5, 1993
