Chhattisgarh: Maoists release engineer and his assistant 4 days after abduction

Engineer Ashok Pawar and his assistant Anand Yadav, who were abducted by Maoists on Friday, have been released and sent for medical examination, police said.

Updated on: Feb 16, 2022, 01:24:44 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: The Maoists on Tuesday evening released an engineer and his assistant who were taken hostage from Bastar’s Bijapur district, police said.

Engineer Ashok Pawar’s wife, Sonal made an emotional appeal through a video for the release of the engineer and his assistant.

“The engineer Ashok Pawar and worker Anand Yadav, who were abducted, have been released and sent for medical examination,” said inspector general of Police, Bastar range, Sunderaj P.

The engineer and his assistant, who were working for a private construction company engaged in the building of a bridge over a river in the district, were allegedly abducted by Maoists on Friday.

Police said that both Ashok Pawar (38) and Anand Yadav (27) are the residents of neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

Pawar’s wife, Sonal and his two daughters have been camping in Bijapur district for the last two days and made an emotional appeal through a video for the release of the engineer and his assistant.

Tribal leader Nand Kumar Sai also appealed the Maoists to release the engineer and his assistant.

This was the second abduction by the Maoists in the last three months in Bastar region.

Earlier in October last year, a 35-year-old Chhattisgarh sub-engineer and a peon were abducted in Bijapur district.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More