‘Knew you were strong’: Emotional reunion of C’garh official abducted by Maoists

Ajay Lakra and Laxman Pratagiri were abducted by local Maoist cadres when they were surveying an under-construction road between Bijapur town and Gorana village in Mankeli panchayat

Updated on: Nov 17, 2021, 20:17:39 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: A 35-year-old Chhattisgarh sub-engineer abducted last week in Bijapur district was released on Wednesday by Maoists after multiple appeals by his wife Arpita who spent the last few days scouring the south Chhattisgarh forests.

Sub engineer Ajay Lakra hugs his wife Arpita in the jungles of south Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district soon after his release by Maoists who abducted him on Thursday . (Twitter screengrab/@anitachoudhary)

A peon, Laxman Pratagiri, who was abducted along with sub-engineer Ajay Lakra was released on Friday, a day after the two were taken away.

“We are getting information about the safe release of abducted sub-engineer Ajay Lakra. He is expected to reach Bijapur by Wednesday evening. First and foremost, the priority would be to assess his medical condition… After that, further course of action will be taken,” inspector general of police, Bastar Range, Sunderaj P, said early on Wednesday afternoon.

Ajay Lakra and Laxman Pratagiri were abducted by local Maoist cadres when they were surveying an under-construction road between Bijapur town and Gorana village in Mankeli panchayat. Laxman Pratagiri was released near another village, about four kilometres from Gorana village. Pratagiri, 24, and Lakra, 35, were assigned to work for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

His wife Arpita, who issued multiple appeals over the past week to Maoists to seek her husband’s release, thanked everyone who played a role in securing her husband’s freedom.

“I thank everyone who helped me including local journalists, villagers and representatives for the release of my husband,” said Arpita who spent days after her husband’s abduction in Bijapur’s jungles with her young child to touch base with the Maoists.

A few hours later, images and videos of the couple, now together, emerged on social media.

“I knew you were strong,” Arpita Lakra is seen telling her husband in one video that emerged as the official sought to console his wife. HT cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video.

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

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