Missing Canadian in Naxal militia custody

The foreigner had gone untraceable since last evening in Chhattisgarh

Canadian national John Szlazak, who has gone missing last evening in Naxal-infested Sukma district, is reported to be held captive by the rebel-backed Jan Militia.

Szlazak is on a bicycle expedition in the country and was peddling through some of the worst Naxal-infested pockets of restive Sukma district when reports came in about his disappearance late Monday night. He represented Canada-based organisation, Immigration Refugee Citizen, and had started his journey from Mumbai on March 14.

The foreigner had not informed the local authorities in Bastar about his movement. A senior intelligence wing official told Business Standard that their men had come to know about Szlazak’s movement. He was lasted spotted in Singamadu in restive Sukma district, about 450 km from here.

Since late Monday evening, there was no trace of Szlazak and that triggered panic even as authorities from the Canadian Embassy, foreign ministry and Chhattisgarh government swung into action. The embassy statement said that it was aware of the reports that a Canadian had been kidnapped.

D M Awasthy, Special Director General of Police (anti-Naxal operations), denied that Szlazak had been kidnapped. “He was untraceable”, he said, adding that the police had spotted him. But the statement was hardly reassuring.

Though the police authorities are not revealing as much, the Canadian national is reported to be in the custody of Jan Militia—the village level wing of the Naxal outfit. While officials have hinted about it, they are playing safe to ensure Szlazak returns.

“He (Szlazak) is safe and sound,” Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena said. The villagers had intercepted him and were interrogating as they view strangers suspiciously, he added.

Meena refused to initiate police action saying it would endanger the Canadian's life. “We are sending messages through forest dwellers and traders that Szlazak is not connected to any police party or law enforcement agency,” he added.

The official said he was hopeful that after interrogation, the villagers would allow Szlazak to go.