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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
The four-day ordeal of Marthand Rao, a close relative of Union Minister of State for Home Ch Vidyasagar Rao, ended on Monday evening when he was set free by his abductors belonging to the Janashakti group of the Communist Party of India, Marxist-Leninist, in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sources said the Janashakti group announced Marthand Rao's release at Sanagula village in Karimnagar district.
The Naxalite outfit sent a press release to local newspapers in this regard. But state or district police officials are yet to confirm it, saying they were awaiting word from their staff.
The release came after relatives of Marthand Rao, a rich contractor, reportedly struck a deal with the Janashakti group.
The interlocutors who acted on behalf of Marthand Rao's family negotiated a deal on the ransom amount. Sources said the amount could be in the range of Rs 4 million, much less than the Rs 10 million initially demanded by the abductors.
Marthand Rao was abducted from his home village Korem in Boinpally area of the extremist-infested Karimnagar district in the early hours of Friday, October 26, when he went to celebrate Dussehra with his family. He was taken deep into the forests in Chandurthy area and held there for four days.
Even as the family of Marthand Rao, an A class civil contractor, preferred not to lodge any formal complaint, the police suo motu registered a case of abduction under section 375 of the Indian Penal Code and section 27 of the Indian Arms Act against the Janashakti group.
EARLIER REPORTS: Contact made with Marthand Rao's abductors Union minister's kin kidnapped in Andhra Pradesh
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