Collector freed, says he lived on BPL rice, dal
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Feb. 24: After nine days of high drama, Maoists on Thursday evening released the Malkangiri collector, Mr R. Vineel Krishna, who they abducted on February 16.
He was handed over to a group of media persons at Doliamba, a village in Chitrakonda-Balimela reservoir area, nearly 750 km from here. The collector reached his home at 9.30 pm and got an emotional welcome from his father, relatives and the district officials.
“I thank all the people of Odisha, especially the tribals, who all along stood by me,” the collector said soon after his arrival at Malkangiri.
The nine-day-long forced sojourn provided Mr Krishna with first-hand experience of the life of tribals. He survived on subsidised rice and dal supplied to the below poverty line people. The collector was held hostage on a well-guarded hilltop, eight km from Doliamba.
After being handed over to a group of media persons at a Praja Court (People’s Court), Mr Krishna was seen happily relishing rice and dal served on a worn-out steel plate.
“The tribals of Chitrakonda sincerely wanted my release. I’m very much grateful to them.” A relieved Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, told reporters in Bhubaneswar: “I am very glad that the collector has been released.”
To a query, the CM said the state government did not bow down to the Maoists. “We have made certain commitments to their (Maoists) demands and will honour those commitments,” he said.
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