Bail pleas of four Maoists filed in HC

Cuttack, Feb 24 (PTI) Bail petitions of four Maoists,whose release among others was demanded by the ultras inexchange of the abducted Malkangiri collector and a juniorengineer, were filed in Orissa High Court today.

The bail applications of Andaluri Eswari (29), RojaMandini (21), Kendula Sirisha (42) and Gokul Kuldipia (42)were filed.

All the four were arrested from Similiguda on November13 last year when they were on their way to Narayanpatna inOrissa from Andhra Pradesh in a jeep.

Police had seized Maoist literature, combat uniformand letters written in Telugu to some Maoist commanders fromthe ultras.

All were booked under Unlawful Activities (Preventive)Act.

Their advocate P K Jena had secured bail yesterday fora senior Maoist leader, Ganti Prasad whose freedom was alsodemanded by the Maoists during the hostage crisis which endedtonight with the release of Malkangiri Collector R V Krishna.

The junior engineer Pabitra Kumar Majhi was releasedyesterday after both were abducted on February 16.

The advocate also filed bail application for anotherMaoist Gouranga Jena (36), who was arrested by Sambalpurpolice in June 2008.

It is not known whether Jena''s release was demandedby the Maoists.

All the bail applications are likely to come up forhearing on Friday.