In two separate search operations which were being carried out in the Sukma and Dantewada district of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, two Maoist who allegedly kidnapped IAS officer Alex Paul Menon in 2012 have been nabbed.
During the search operation in Sukma, the District Reserve Guard with the help of local police caught a woman naxal named Rava Ganga on Thursday. While in another separate search operation, wanted Maoist Sukhram Kawasi was arrested from Dantewada. They both had bounties of Rs.1 lakh each.
Sukma SP Mr. Sunil Kumar told the media that Rava Ganga had joined the Maoists group in the year 2011. In 2012, she kidnapped the then-District Collector, Mr. Alex Paul Menon, who was posted at Sukma during that time. Apart from this, she was also accused in the IED Blast case on Polling Party, an incident that occurred in 2013.
Sukhram Kawasi on the other side was active as a commander of DMKMS in the region. He had charges of Murder, IED Blast, Attack on Police officials, etc.
Mr. Alex Paul Menon is an IAS officer of 2006 Batch. During his stint as DC Sukma, he was kidnapped by the Maoist group in Chhattisgarh on April 21, 2012. The incident took place when he was out on the field for attending a meeting with tribal villagers. The aim of attending the meeting was to announce the introduction of modern agriculture and horticulture techniques to boost the income of villagers at Majhipara, a village in Sukma district.
By taking advantage of the meeting, the Maoist group attacked and killed two security guards travelling with Mr. Menon and abducted him. He was kept as a hostage for 12 days and was released from captivity on May 03, 2012, after long negotiations. He is the first collector who has been kidnapped by the Maoists in Chhattisgarh state.
