RAIPUR: Bastar police is exploring all possibilities to trace the missing CoBRA jawan, who is suspected to be held captive by the Maoists.
After a mysterious caller allegedly informed a local that the missing jawan was in custody of Maoists, police intensified the search and is trying to gather human intelligence for clues.
The caller, claiming to be Maoist, said that the jawan is wounded yet healthy and that they don’t intend to harm him. The caller further claimed the jawan will be released soon.
The ‘jail bandi rihayi samiti’ members including tribal activist Soni Sori and Sujeet Sharma have appealed to Maoists to release the jawan at the earliest as his family is going through a difficult time.
“We have always been against violence, be it from any side. On the basis of humanity, we appeal to Maoists to release the CoBRA personnel safely. We can’t even imagine what his family would be suffering,” a statement issue by committee said.
It further said, “In case there’s any delay in release and return of jawan, then a small team of the committee would proceed on April 7 towards the forest ahead of spot of incident in Tekulguda. Without discussing about anything other than the release of jawan, we will put out demand before the representatives of Maoists.”
Bastar range IGP P Sundarraj said that the search for the missing jawan was on in the forests.
Although a Maoist statement claims the jawan is in their custody, its authenticity is being verified and only then further action will be planned, said Sundarraj.
A CRPF officer said that there was high possibility that the information was true. He said the force is trying to get the location to release him with the help of locals.
Most often, in such cases, Maoists release the security personnel under the condition that he or she would quit the forces and never return to battlefield nor even encourage his or her children to join forces, another officer said.
Meanwhile, Manhas’ wife Meenu from Jammu appealed to Prime Minister Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to do their best to get her soldier husband back.
“I appeal to Modiji to rescue my husband safely just the way Abhinandan was brought back from Pakistan. I spoke to him last on Friday at 9.30 and he told me he was going on operation and would speak to me later,” said Meenu.