Family, friends rejoice Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon's release

CHENNAI/TIRUNELVELI: "I feel happy as a parrot that has just been let off from a cage," said Varadhas, father of Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon.

An overjoyed Varadhas, who shared sweets with family and friends soon after hearing the news, said he had spent sleepless nights and had not eaten well from the day his son was abducted.

A celebratory mood pervaded Menon's houses in Chennai and Tirunelveli. Friends, relatives and journalists gathered at the IAS officer's in-laws house at Mogappair West in Chennai from morning, as information from Raipur indicated his release.

However, Varadhas desired his son should continue to serve the people of Sukma, as "one should live through the troubles and adversities in life". Commenting on the Maoists, he said, "The Maoists should not have done that. If they had any problem, they should have taken it up with the government. My son was there only to serve the people of Sukma."