Date:22/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/22/stories/2005012204370600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

BRO employee freed after high drama

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, JAN. 21. The Janashakti today released Mallikarjuna Swamy, who is working for the Border Road Organisation (BRO). He was abducted from neighbouring Maharashtra on Wednesday and taken to the forests of Mahadevpur region in the district. They were demanding the release of some militants arrested by the Gadchiroli police under Asarelli police station limits.

Police sources said members of the Ramakanth dalam in Maharashtra abducted a BRO supervisor, Unni Krishna, demanding Rs. 4 lakhs ransom while he was executing works on the National Highway 16 in the Sironcha region of that State.

Naxalites brought Unni Krishna to Karimnagar district by crossing the Godavari and kept him at an undisclosed location. The same night, he escaped when the dalam members were fast asleep.

Meanwhile, when Major Mallikarjuna Swamy, in order to get his colleague released, entered the forests, naxalites held him captive.

Sensing threat from the police, the Janashakti settled for a deal. It agreed to release Swamy unharmed if the Gadchiroli police released two of their comrades. Following the release of the militants, the Major was set free.