Pune men on peace mission to be home in 2 days, say families
PUNE: Three men from Pune, who were on a peace mission when they were kidnapped by Maoists in Chhattisgarh, were released on Sunday. According to their relatives, they are have been brought to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’S Chintalnnar camp.
Srikrishna Shewale, 28; Adarsh Patil, 27, and Vikas Walke, 25, were on Bharat Jodo campaign through three Maoist-infested states – Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh and Odisha. They began their 20-day mission from Pune on December 20. “We have been told by the police that they are now safe and will now return home in two days,” said Srikrishna’s father.
The Maoists had sought the identity cards of the men to check if they belonged to the police force, said a relative. “Once the identity cards were shown, the men were released and brought to Chintalnar camp,” said Pune anti-terrorism squad sources.
According to family members, the youths were reported missing from Basaguda, bordering Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region.
“Vikas called me and confirmed that all three of them are safe and will be back home in two days. He was a part of a campaign to interact with people from Maoist-affected areas,” said Madhumati, Vikas’ sister.
The families said they had last spoken to the trio early last week. “I spoke to Vikas on the phone last on Tuesday and his number has been unreachable,” said his father Dnyaneshwar Walke.
For Srikrishna, a student of Savitribai Phule Pune University, this was his second visit to these areas on a bicycle. “Last year, Srikrishna had gone to Nagpur, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli to spend time in Anandwan and other adjoining areas to see how people are peacefully living there despite adverse conditions,” said his friend, Neeraj Dhumal.
Just before starting their tour, Adarsh had written on his social networking page that they are undertaking this mission to “understand Bharat within India”. He wrote, the rally “is to learn how to live as human beings”. He is also expected to demand that Islamabad deliver on its commitment to take action against terrorists targeting India as discussed in the Nsalevel dialogue on terrorism in Bangkok.
“The PM took stock of the Pathankot situation and the possible steps to be taken diplomatically with Pakistan,” said a senior official.
The Narendra Modi government was all for dialogue with the Nawaz Sharif government but rescheduling the talks was necessary to give time to Islamabad to take action against Azhar’s troopers, the sources said.
“Since terror and dialogue cannot go together, Pakistan will have to show its commitment to the peace process so that FS level dialogue take place this month,” said a South Block official.
THE FAMILIES OF THE THREE MEN FOM PUNE SAID THEY HAD LAST SPOKEN TO THEM EARLY LAST WEEK
It is understood that New Delhi will prepare a case study of the Pathankot attack, containing evidence nailing the JEM and their ISI handlers, on the basis of which Pakistan will be pressed to take action against the proscribed group.
The South Block is clear the JEM was used by the Interservices Intelligence in the Pathankot attack as the group has been virulently anti-india and opposed to any peace talks. “There is deliberate signature left in the attack so that message is understood by both sides,” said a senior official.