Ending the 11-day-old suspense over fate of the abducted Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, held hostage by the Naxals since April 21, the Maoists on Tuesday evening said they will release him on May 3.
In SMSes sent to a section of the media here, the sender, who identified himself as Vijay Madkam, secretary of South Bastar Division Committee (SBDC), said the young IAS officer, held captive by him, would be released at Tadmetla in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on May 3.
The SMS, however, did not specify when and exactly at which place Mr Menon would be set free on May 3. The rebel leader also thanked the Chhattisgarh government for declaring to constitute a high power standing committee to review cases of all undertrial tribal and Naxal prisoners, as agreed between the mediators appointed by the both sides.
The SMSes were sent at around 8.30 pm.
Earlier, however, the two Maoist mediators — former IAS officer B.D.Sharma and Hyderabad-based academician Prof. Hargopal — had announced that the district magistrate would walk free by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the development came a huge relief to the state government as well as Mr Menon’s kin.
His wife Asha Menon hoped that the Maoists would honour their words.