Sharma, Haragopal visit Maoist leaders

     Sukma, Raipur, April 28, 2012: Maoists interlocutors Dr Brahma Dev Sharma and Prof G Haragopal today flew to Sukma forest area of Chhattisgarh to discuss various issues with the rebel leaders regarding the release of the kidnapped Sukma Collector Alex V F Paul Menon V.

     Both the Maoist interlocutors went to Chintalnar in a helicopter, provided by the state government, official sources said.

     It was stated that Sharma and Haragopal would brief the Maoist leaders about the discussion they had with the state government interlocutors and also about the stand of the Raman Singh government on the demand forwarded by the Maoists a day after the Collector was kidnapped on April 21 from Majhipara.

     “We will brief the Maoist leaders about the stand of the state government and after having a detailed discussion, hopefully we will return back by evening,” Sharma told reporters before going into the deep forest.

     Armed Maoists received both the interlocutors in the forest and took them inside.

     After arriving at Chintalnar, both the interlocutors went up to Tadmetla in pillion riding on the motorcycles of media persons. But Maoists stopped the vehicles at Tadmetla and advised all the media persons to return back from that point.

     The Maoists, who had come to receive Sharma and Haragopal, had also thoroughly checked the vehicles of the media persons.

     When the 2006-batch IAS officer was on a tour of the Majhipara area in Sukma District on April 21 during Gram Suraj Abhiyan, he was confronted by the Maoists guerrilla and after exchange of fire, the civil servant was kidnapped by Maoists after killing both his body guards.