After Friday's conflicting versions on kidnap of five election officials in Malkangiri district, the abducted officials on Saturday revealed that they were in the captivity of the ultras and produced before a Praja Court (people's court).
Of the five poll officials, two of them, Gram Panchayat Technical Assistants Praveen Soren and Kaminikanta Singh, narrated their ordeal to the media after their release by the Maoists.
"We were abducted while we were on duty at our respective panchayats. We were taken to a place near the Gora Setu and produced before a Praja Court, where 20 to 22 Maoists were present. The ultras threatened us not to participate in the panchayat polls and then asked us to go back," Kaminikanta Singh said.
Praveen Soren said, "The Maoists told me that whether it is police encounter or other issues, the district administration has not reached out to people. The villagers have been deprived of the welfare schemes.”