Collector Alex Paul Menon returns home to Sukma

Thirteen days after he was kidnapped by Maoists, District Collector Alex Paul Menon was received at home in Sukma by his joyous and relieved family Friday. Soon after, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said no secret deal had been struck with the rebels to secure his release.

Menon, a 32-year-old Indian Administrative Service official from Tamil Nadu, had emerged Thursday from captivity at 6.30 p.m.,
accompanied by Maoist mediators, in Tarmetla, a tiny forested hamlet.

He reached his Sukma home Friday. Menon's wife Asha, who is pregnant, was there to receive him at the door. As he was greeted by his wife and other family members with the traditional 'aarti', scores of media personnel jostled with each other to capture the moment. There were also many locals from Sukma to greet Menon.

He had been abducted from a forested area in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh April 21. The Maoists took him away after murdering his two bodyguards Amjad Khan and Kishen Kujur.

He is believed to have been held by Maoists deep in a forest, amid multiple layers of security. A visibly fatigued Menon, who suffers from asthma, said he was feeling "ok" after emerging from Maoist captivity. He spent the night at a Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) camp at Chintalnar, 80 km from Sukma town.

His release sparked off celebrations by his family here in Sukma town as well as in Tamil Nadu where his parents live.

Menon's freedom was ensured after Maoist interlocutors and government mediators Nirmala Buch and S.K. Mishra signed a two-page agreement Monday night.

In line with the pact, a high-powered committee will be set up to look into all demands made by the Maoists. These include considering the release of Maoists jailed allegedly on fake charges.

Raman Singh denied any secret agreement with Maoists in exchange for Menon.
"The agreement with the Maoists is not a secret document and has been put in the public domain on the website," Raman Singh told reporters in Delhi.

He was reacting to reports of Maoists claiming that the Chhattisgarh government had agreed to release some prisoners from jail.

The government panel to look into the demands of Maoists will be headed by Nirmala Buch, former Madhya Pradesh chief secretary. The Chhattisgarh chief secretary and police chief will also be part of the committee.

"The committee has started its work and it will look into cases registered against innocent people across state jails and will accordingly make recommendations to the courts," he said.

"Nothing else has been agreed to," he said.
He also said that he wanted Menon to continue as the Sukma district collector.
Replying to a question on Operation Green Hunt -- the paramilitary operations launched against Maoist guerrillas in the country, Raman Singh said: "There was no such operation and it does not exist in state government's dictionary."

Asked about the activities that took place in the name of Salwa Judum, he said: "People stepped out for their protection, they just called it something, Salwa Judum does not exist."

He also called for a national policy to deal with hostage crises.