Malkangiri collector freed finally

After hiccups galore, Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna was freed by the Maoists on Thursday. The DM’s release caught the state government unawares. Fresh talks were to be held after the rebels raised additional demands, calling for a public swap of the collector with nine of their imprisoned comrades. In the event, the government agreed to release five, refusing to let go two key leaders of their group. “I was surprised when they (Maoists) took me away, you have to ask them why they did that,” Krishna said. Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, “We agreed on certain issues. The government will honour its commitment. I am very glad the collector was released. I am sure everybody, especially his family, would be very happy.” Krishna was freed after a four-hour public meeting called by the Maoists in Tentuliguda village with about 1,500 villagers. The Maoists made speeches and discussed issues like mining and underdevelopment during the meeting. The meeting ended at 4.30pm after which the collector crossed the Balimela reservoir. Commenting on the meeting called by the Maoists, Krishna said, "It's good to have development debates. Hope it benefits the poor tribals." “The Maoists kept me well and engaged me in conversation on development issues,” said Krishna after he stepped down from the boat that brought him back from the “cut-off” area. He hugged his driver Shankar Rao, who wept. Consoling his driver, Krishna said in Telugu, "Why are you crying? I am safe and already back.” Shankar Rao had been waiting for Krishna's release for the last eight days by the Balimela reservoir. While Krishna was boarding the boat, amidst the beating of drums, local officials in the headquarters were busy making arrangements for interlocutors, who were reportedly flying down from Bhubaneswar to facilitate the collector's release on Friday morning. The Maoists had called for the release of Srinivasulu, Ashutosh, and Shobha, after Orissa government had already conceded 14 original demands. The government agreed to release Gunti Prasadam whose bail application was heard in a Koraput court on Thursday, apart from Padma, Ishwari, Sarita and Gokul. The key Naxals whose release was sought but rejected by the government are Srinivasulu and Ashutosh. After being released inside forest near Doliambo village, Krishna moved in a motorcycle to Janvai ghat from where he crossed the Balimela reservoir in a motorboat to reach Chitrakonda. From there, he traversed the 60-km stretch between Chitrakonda and Malkangiri town in a four-wheeler, amid cheers from hundreds of people. Asked if he would go back to the area, Krishna said, “I will go wherever my service is required.”