Maoists in Chhattisgarh have released CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas after keeping him in their custody for five days. He had been kidnapped during the Bijapur attack on 3 April.
In the Maoist ambush on Saturday, 22 security personnel, including seven CRPF commandos of the CoBRA unit, lost their lives and 31 were injured. The encounter had broken out between security forces and Naxals along Chhattisgarh’s Sukma-Bijapur border after a party of jawans were ambushed by the Naxals near Jonnaguda village. Manhas had gonemissing after that gun battle.
Three days later, on 6 April, the Maoists said that the jawan was in their custody and issued a press note asking the government to name interlocutors for his release. In the note, Vikalp, spokesperson of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC) of the banned CPI (Maoists), wrote, “The government must declare the names of interlocutors. After that, we will release the policeman in our custody. Till then, he will be safe under our security.”
A day later, on Wednesday, the Maoists released a picture of Manhas, in which he was seen sitting on a plastic mat under a temporary shelter, possibly at a Maoist camp On Thursday, a group of local journalists and community leaders went to retrieve Manhas. The group included a journalist from India News, K. Shankar, who shed further light on the chain of events leading up to his release.
“We were in constant communication with the Maoists so we could gauge the condition of the jawan and the situation overall,” said Shankar. “I also got news of him to his family. There are certain things you do as a human being, not just a journalist,” he shared.
Shankar also said that despite the press note issued by the Maoists, Manhas was released unconditionally. He explained that as a move made by the Maoists to gain the villagers’ favour.
“The jawan was released in front of hundreds of villagers from twenty villages in the region after four locals and a group of journalists in Bastar went to hold talks and get Manhas,” said Shankar.
After he was released, Manhas got a ride on Shankar’s bike from the jungle to the Basaguda police station. Manhas was captured by the camera smiling in relief as he thanked India News for the efforts made.
“We have brought him back safely. He will undergo a medical examination by a doctor here,” said Bijapur Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap after Manhas returned.
Back at his home, his wife, Meenu, informed the press that he is in good health. “Today is the happiest day of my life. I always remained hopeful of his return. I am very thankful to the government,” she told press agency ANI.
Manhas, a constable in the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit of the CRPF, is a resident of Jammu. On Sunday, after he was declared missing, a senior CRPF officer had met his family and assured his relatives that the government was trying its best to get him back.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, an MP from Udhampur, also expressed his happiness over his release. “A huge relief for the family as well as the entire Jammu region. Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” he said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, in the 6 April press note, the DSZC had also released names of four Maoists who died in the operation and claimed that the Maoists had managed to procure 14 weapons, more than 2,000 bullets, besides other items.