Three officers kidnapped by Maoists, released 2 hrs later

Maoists on Monday kidnapped three block-level officers from a village meeting and released them two hours later with their 9-point charter of demands, police said.

The incident took place at Kangurukunda grama panchayat office under Kalimela block of Malkangiri district.

About 15 armed Maoists reached the spot where the three government officials were holding the meeting with some villagers, Malkangiri superintendent of police Akhilesh Singh said.

They allegedly threatened the gathering and asked the officers why were they holding the meeting in spite of their earlier warnings against such meetings. They forcibly took all the three officials to a nearby forest.

But, after two hours the ultras released all the officers with their 9-point charter of demands to be given to the district administration, the SP said.

Their demands include construction of a 8km long Manamukunda-Karkatpalli canal for irrigation purpose, withdrawal of security forces from the area, loan to the farmers and release of innocent tribals booked on the plea of Maoists.

Pallisabhas are held at all the gram panchayats of Odisha for the development of the rural pockets through various government schemes.