Pastor's son kidnapped by Maoists

Rajahmundry (AP): A 20-year-old son of a pastor was allegedly abducted by Maoists in East Godavari district and efforts are on to get him released, police said on Monday.

Issac, son of local church pastor Kannaiah, residing on the outskirts of Lakshmipuram village in Yetapaka agency area of Rampachodavaram mandal in East Godavari, was allegedly abducted by Maoists on Saturday, Assistant Superintendent of Police Phakeerappa said.

Since then efforts are on to get him released. The local leaders (of some political parties) established contacts with Maoists who had kidnapped Issac in the early hours of Saturday. Negotiations are going on for the safe release of Issac.

So far the Naxals have not made any demand for his release, Phakeerappa said. About 20-30 Maoists came to the house of Kannaiah and enquired about him.

As he was not in the house, the Maoists took away his son Issac to a deep forest in the area, he said. Later, Kannaiah lodged a complaint with Yetapaka police station stating that his son was kidnapped by Maoists.

The pastor had migrated from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and was staying in the village since the last 10 years, he said.

Last month, Maoists had abducted three leaders of the ruling Telugu Desam Party at Kottagudem under G K Veedhi mandal of Visakhapatnam district on Andhra-Odisha border area.

They released the three leaders after keeping them in captivity for about 10 days.

Source:PTI