A day after they made a claim that a jawan – purported to be Rakeshwar Singh, the missing CoBRA personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – was in their captivity and safe, Maoists on Wednesday released a photograph of the personnel, sitting in a temporary shelter in an undisclosed place.
The photograph was sent out to some local journalists. One of the journalists confirmed to The Week that the photograph was sent to him after questions were raised on evidence of the personnel being in Maoist captivity as they claimed through a press statement on Tuesday.
In the photograph, the jawan is seen in a fatigue dress and apparently without any injury. He is seen sitting on the ground on a blue tarpaulin in sort of a temporary shed. Sources said that he might have been kept in Jagargunda locality and close to some village.
The Maoists had asked the government to name mediators for the release of the jawan and had said that till that time he (the jawan) will be safe with them. Rakeshwar Singh Manhas had gone missing on April 3 when the encounter between joint teams of security forces and Chhattisgarh police was held with the Maoists between Jonaguda and Tekalguda area under Tarrem police station of Bijapur district in Bastar region.
There has not yet been any visible move from the state government in this direction. While home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu had said that he had just heard about the statement and claims of the Maoists and added that decision will be taken in consultation with the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Inspector General (IG) of police of Bastar, Sundarraj P said that the authenticity of the claim was being verified and best efforts were on to locate the missing jawan and secure his safe release. He also said that the situation was being monitored.
Director general of police (DGP) D.M. Awasthi could not be contacted for comments.
There are indications that the issue might be taken up for discussion later today by the chief minister.
Meanwhile, members of NGO Jail Bandi Rihai Samiti that had called upon the Maoists to release the jawan, have reportedly left for the site of the encounter on Wednesday along with tribal activist Soni Sori. Sori told the media persons that she wanted the safe release of jawan and was proceeding to the site of Saturday ambush for that purpose. She said that the government should have taken some steps to secure release of the jawan by now.
