Peace processions demanding collector''s release

Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (PTI) Protesting against theabduction of Malkangiri district Collector R V Krishna andengineer Pabitra Majhi by Maoists, people from varioussections of the society took out peace processions in severalplaces of Orissa today demanding their early release.

Intellectuals, lawyers, teachers, school and collegestudents and housewives staged a procession in the districtheadquarter town of Malkangiri.

The silent procession went around the town carryingplacards and banners with appeals like "Free our belovedCollector" and "Please release the tribal friendly Collector."

Appealing to the red rebels not to cause any harm tothe abducted duo, they said violence offered no solutionto any problem.

Normal life was affected in the tribal-dominated andMaoist hit district as schools, colleges, offices, shops andbusiness establishments remained closed in a spontaneousresponse to the abduction. None had given any call for bandh.

Describing Krishna as a sincere officer who workedhard for the development of the backward district and welfareof the poor and tribals, the locals also held an all-faithprayer meeting for his early release.

Similar peace processions were also organised inneighbouring Koraput, Jeypore and Rayagada districts.

"The Maoists should not have kidnapped Krishna who hadgone to Chitrakonda area to hear about people''s problems andfind solutions," district collector of Rayagada Nitin BhanudasJawle said while attending a prayer meet.

He said Krishna''s sincerity and commitment towards thepeople, particularly tribals, was evident from the fact thathe did not even hesitate to take a bike ride without securityto inspect a culvert.