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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
Marthand Rao, a close relative of Union Minister of State for Home Vidyasagar Rao, is still being held hostage by his abductors belonging to Janashakti group of Naxalites almost two days after his kidnap, even as family sources said they have established contact with the kidnappers.
State police sources said that the relatives of Marthand Rao, a rich and influential contractor, were making efforts to secure his release.
They are mediating with the Janashakti group through local contacts to 'settle the issue amicably', amidst unconfirmed reports that the abductors had demanded ransom of a whopping Rs 10 million for setting him free.
The 55-year-old Marthand Rao was taken away from his house in Korem village in Boinpally area in Naxalite-affected Karimnagar district by a four-member armed squad of Janashakti group in the early hours of Friday.
He had gone to his native village to celebrate Dussehra with the family.
"The relatives have contacted the Janashakti naxalites. We (the police) are keeping away from this episode since the family has not lodged any formal complaint about the kidnapping nor sought our help in any manner. The relatives, in fact, have told us 'why do you worry about him. We will get him released'. Hence, there is not much we can do under these circumstances," a police official said on condition of anonymity.
According to sources, several political leaders, including Union Minister of State Vidyasagar Rao, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president M Satyanarayana Rao, were making efforts through their large network of friends and relatives to secure the release of Marthand Rao from his captors.
Vidyasagar Rao, however, tried to play down the incident.
He said that the episode had nothing to do with the fact that Marthand Rao was his relative. There were no allegations or charges against Marthand Rao nor was he on the hit-list of the Janashakti or outlawed People's War Group of Naxalites.
The Union Minister claimed that the Janashakti group did not kidnap Marthand Rao for ransom or for any political motives. But, Marthand Rao was merely taken away by the Naxalites for seeking some clarifications about a contract being executed by him, he said.
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