Collector kidnap: Maoist leader to be produced in Orissa court

Hyderabad, Feb 20 (PTI) Maoist leader Ganti Prasadam,whose release among others has been demanded by the Naxals tofree abducted Malkangiri collector R V Krishna, was handedover to police for producing him before an Orissa court,officials said today.

Prasadam, also the convener of Martyrs Friends andRelatives Committee, was lodged in the Ongole Prison in AndhraPradesh''s Prakasam district since February 7 and was handedover to local police last evening as Orissa Police had secureda Prisoners Transfer (PT) warrant against him from the KoraputSub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Court, they said.

"Following the court directive (PT warrant), we handedover Prasadam to the local police for production before theKoraput court. Either the local police can produce Prasadambefore the court or they can also hand over him to the OrissaPolice who in turn can produce before the court," OngolePrison Superintendent V Phaniraju told PTI over phone.

He will be produced before the Orissa court.

Maoists had also asked for the release of GantiPrasadam and other Maoists leaders as a precondition to takepart in negotiations with the government emissaries to freethe IAS officer, who had abducted on February 16.

Prasadam, who was arrested in November last by KoraputPolice was brought to Ongole in connection with the case ofattempt on the life of then Prakasam SP M C Laddha in 2009.