10 abducted villagers released by Naxals in Chhattisgarh

Atleast 10 villagers, including women sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, who were allegedly kidnapped by Naxals last week, have been released in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said today.
"All the hostage villagers were released last night and they have reached to their village Chintagufa safely," Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.
Chintagufa Sarpanch Podiyam Muye, her son Kosa, brother-in-law Komal, and the woman deputy sarpanch of the village were among the villagers who were abducted by ultras on September 16 night, he said.
Chintagufa- considered as a Maoist den, is located deep inside forest in southern part of Bastar division.

According to the information, ultras have issued several warnings to the abducted villagers before freeing them last night, he said.
Ultras took them to Kasalpada and two other villages where they held 'jan adalat' (kangaroo court) and warned them not to help the administration in carrying out development activities in remote areas, he said.

Maoists have also threatened them asking not to attend meetings held by the district administration to address the grievances of villagers, the SP said.
Muye is the wife ofPodiyam Pandu alias Panda (45), a janmilitia deputy commander of Maoists, who had surrendered in May this year, he said.

Panda was allegedly involvedin the attack on Central Reserve Police Force patrolling party on April 24 inBurkapalarea wherein 25 personnel were killed.
After his surrender, Panda had revealed crucial details about Burkapal incident besides the "high profile" urban network of Maoists, the SP said.
Apparently frustrated with the move, Maoists had kidnapped his innocent family members along with other villagers and threatened them, he said.