The Maoists on Thursday evening released abducted CRPF commando Rakeshwar Singh Minhas.
The CRPF cobra commando was taken captive by the Maoists following a deadly ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar on April 3.
He was released at an undisclosed location in the forests of South Bastar.
“It was an unconditional release. The abducted CRPF’s CoBRA battalion commando was handed over to social worker Dharamlal Saini and tribal community leader Telam Boraiya, who were the emissaries for his release,” TOI quoted official sources as saying.
Manhas belongs to the 210th CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) battalion, an elite unit of CRPF.
On Tuesday, the proscribed CPI (Maoist) issued a statement in Hindi saying its cadres had abducted Manhas from the site of the ambush and demanded that the Chhattisgarh government appoint interlocutors to ensure his safe release.
On Saturday, the gunfight broke out between security forces and ultras between Tekalguda and Jonaguda villages in which 22 troopers were killed and 31 others injured.
Out of the 22, eight were from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including seven CoBRA commandos and one jawan of its ‘Bastariya’ battalion, eight from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and six from the Special Task Force (STF).