Concerned over Maoist abductions, New Delhi offers help to Chhattisgarh

Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and assured him of all help from the Centre following abduction of Sukma district collector Alex Pal Menon by Naxals.

Official sources said during their telephonic conversation, Chidambaram told Singh that the central government was ready to offer any assistance needed to secure the release of the 32-year-old IAS officer.

Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh also spoke to state Chief Secretary and offered to send additional central forces if required.

The Centre is worried over the spurt in incidents of abduction as the Maoists are trying to get their jailed colleagues released in exchange for freeing the hostages.

Sources said the Home Ministry recently shared an intelligence input with the Naxal affected states that the extremists were planning to abduct prominent persons and asked them to take all precautions to foil such attempts.

Menon's kidnapping came at a time when neighbouring Odisha government was struggling to secure the release of ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka from the Naxal custody.

The Maoists had succeeded in freeing a few jailed colleagues in Odisha earlier after they kidnapped two Italians.

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