The latest development from the 'Red Corridor' is that the Malkangiri district collector, Mr. R. Vineel Krishna, an IIT-educated IAS officer, has been abducted by the Maoists along with junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi. As usual, our ministers are up in arms, protesting this heinous and dastardly act, disrupting the assembly proceedings and blaming the CM, Naveen Patnaik for not taking concrete steps to curb the Maoist menace. The ruling Orissa government has, as usual, strongly condemned this cowardly act of the Maoists. Meanwhile the 48-hour deadline set by the Maoists to release the hostages lapses Friday. According to the locals of the Malkangiri district, Vineel was actively engaged in installing a sound administration machinery in the district, even going on motorcycle to far flung places to discharge his duties. Krishna was instrumental in giving land rights to tribals under FRA in Kandhamal. Its a pity that the daring and honest today have to face such challenges just to stand up for what is right and just. Some are charged with sedition charges while others go missing, never to be found again. Those who think that the Maoist are ruling the roost in the areas affected by them due to local support and their affection are deeply mistaken. Our government's impotency and ineptitude go a long way in helping them to continue inflicting terror on the hapless tribals and officials, paralysing the administration machinery and further devoiding the locals of what is their due. It shows that the Maoists ahave no moral stand, their call for this movement as the tribal people's movement, absolutely phoney. Our celebrated intellectuals have called for the abolishment of the so called 'draconian laws' like the UAPA, CSPSA, AFSPA, terming them as unconstitutional, as violation of civil liberties, as...simply unjust. I ask them to be in the position where Vineel Krishna finds himself today and tell me, really tell me...is this just?Is this fair?
I pray for the safe return of Vineel Krishna and Pabitra Mohan Majhi. May god be with them.
