Abducted Chhattisgarh cops safe, release expected soon: Police

RAIPUR: The four policemen, abducted by the Maoists in Bijapur district, are safe and their release is expected soon, a senior police officer said today.

"All four are safe and they are likely to be released soon," DIG Vivekanand Sinha told reporters here, quoting information received by the police.

Police were making all efforts to secure their release ever since the four were abducted from Bijapur district, which borders Andhra Pradesh, on September 19, he said.

Asked if the abducted -- assistant sub-inspector Sukhram Bhagat, constables B Toppo, Narendra Bhosle and Subhash Patre -- have been set free by the Maoists, Sinha said they don't have any information in this regard.

Sinha said the demands put forward by the ultras are general in nature and were under consideration of the state government.

The Maoists, among other things, have demanded an end to the Operation Green Hunt and release of a few villagers.

Senior officials told PTI that mediapersons and social activists-mediated talks with the ultras had been positive and this has given rise to the hope of safe release of the policemen.

Chief Minister Raman Singh has already appealed to the Maoists to release the abducted policemen.