Chhattisgarh: Maoists release picture of abducted army jawan

Chhattisgarh : The CPI (Maoists) on Wednesday released a picture of a jawan from elite CoBRA unit to confirm his abduction during a fierce battle between security forces and Maoists on the Sukma-Bijapur border on April 3.

In the released picture, CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas can be seen sitting on a plastic mat in a temporary shelter. Manhas had been missing since the encounter between security forces and Maoists. In the aftermath of the ambush, bodies of 22 security personnel had been recovered.

The picture has been released one day after Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DSZC) issued a note demanding government's interlocutors’ to whom the jawan can be handed over.

"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," Vikalp, spokesperson of the DSZC, said.

However, the Bastar IG on Tuesday released a statement in which Manhas was still described as missing. The statement said the veracity of the press note was being checked.