CHENNAI: Expressing concern over the abduction of Collector of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh Alex Paul Menon, CM J Jayalalithaa on Monday urged PM Manmohan Singh to take immediate steps to ensure his safe release.In her letter to the PM, she said the family members of Menon, hailing from Tir-unelveli district in Tamil Nadu, were very worried about his health and were fervently looking for good news. His family members have been camping in Chennai and have appealed to her to help in his early release.Expressing confidence that the Union Home Ministry would have already taken steps to ensure the safe release of Menon, the CM said that since the officer was not keeping well, his family members were worried about his safety. Menon was abducted by Maoists on April 22 while he was on an official inspection and review tour in a remote village bordering the state of Odisha, the CM said, and added that “it is very unfortunate that the officer was abducted while he was discharging his official duties.”DMK chief M Karunanidhi, in a statement, also insisted that the Centre provide all help to the Chhattisgarh government for the safe release of the abducted official. “The official’s family, including his spouse pleaded with the State government for his release. Even the Union Home Minister has spoken to the Chhattisgarh CM in this regard,” Karunanidhi said.The BJP State unit urged the Centre to curtail such violent acts with an iron hand. Party state president Pon Radhakrishnan said that abduction and killing of officials had become a trivial matter for Maoists. He pointed out that such movements had a strong network in the neighbouring states where they easily go across the borders. The party also wanted the Centre and the Chattisgarh government to take measures for the release of the abducted official.When contacted, Alex Paul Menon’s family said that th-ey were waiting to hear from the government on what they had decided at the all-party meeting convened in Chhattisgarh.
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