Chhattisgarh: Maoists abduct deputy sarpanch in Sukma, tribals seek his release

RAIPUR: Maoists have abducted a deputy sarpanch, Madvi Ganga, from his home in the insurgency hotbed of Burkapal in Sukma district, triggering a flood of appeals from villagers to release him unharmed.
Bastar IG P Sundarraj said: “The abducted deputy sarpanch is believed to have been kept somewhere south of the Chintalnar-Jagargunda axis. The Sarv Adivasi Samaj has issued an appeal for his release.Many villagers, including some school students and teachers, have also gone to appeal. A few have returned and others are still in the jungle.”
Sources say Madvi, 36, has been produced by the Maoists before senior cadres at a so-called ‘jan adalat’. The whole village was present at the kangaroo court, and by evening, most of the villagers had returned. Four to five locals were asked to stay back by the Maoists. Those who returned have said that the deputy sarpanch appeared to be okay.
Madvi Ganga was abducted from his house in Tadmetla by a group of armed Maoists who barged in when the family was sleeping on Tuesday night. He was reportedly taken into the forest with his hands tied.
The abduction sparked alarm in the area and some local social organizations appealed to the Maoists to release Madvi unharmed. The Sarv Adivasi Samaj and Koya Samaj have also asked for his freedom.
Police are in touch with the victim’s family and making efforts to get him freed. Sources said officers plan to take the help of social workers.