Odisha collector’s abduction: Maoist, govt employee get life term

In February 2011, members of CPI(Maoist) Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee abducted Krishna along with a junior engineer in the cut-off area of Malkangiri.

Over five years after a group of Maoists abducted erstwhile Malkangiri district collector Vineel Krishna in an cut-off area of the district, a sessions court on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to two persons, including a woman rebel.

The Malkangiri additional district and sessions judge awarded life sentence to village-level worker Tapan Shah and Maoist M Divya for their role in the collector’s abduction. Shah is a government employee.

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The court, however, acquitted accused Ghasiram Pangi for lack of evidence. Another woman Maoist, Sevati, who was arrested in the same case, is still undergoing trial.

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In February 2011, members of CPI(Maoist) Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee abducted Krishna along with a junior engineer in the cut-off area of Malkangiri. The two were there as part of a routine visit.

Krishna and the engineer were released after nine days of negotiation and a virtual rebellion by tribals against the Maoists.

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