Freed from captivity after a week-long ordeal, junior engineer Pabitra Majhi on Wednesday said the Maoists have promised to release Malkangiri district Collector R.V. Krishna within two days and that the official was “fine and being treated well“.
Maintaining that the rebels treated them properly without harassment or torture in their captivity, Mr. Majhi told reporters at Malkangiri that the both, he and Krishna, were served good food, including rice and dal.
“The district collector is fine and in good condition.
There is nothing to worry about his health. We were together,” Mr. Majhi said, adding, “I am also fine.”
Optimistic about the early release of Mr. Krishna, he said the Naxals had promised while freeing him that the Malkangiri collector would be released within 48 hours.
Asked as to why the collector was not freed along with him, the junior engineer said, “I cannot say. It was entirely up to them (Naxals)”.
Unable to name the place where the two were kept, Mr. Majhi said the Naxals did not send any letter when they freed him at a place near Jantapai.
Mr. Krishna and Mr. Majhi were abducted by Maoists from Chitrakonda area in Malkangiri district on February 16 during a visit there for a camp for local development.
