CRPF CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas released by Maoists

Central Reserve Police Force’s CoBRA battalion's jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who was kidnapped by Maoists during the Bijapur ambush in Chhattisgarh on April 3, has been released by the Maoists, the state police said on Thursday.

The CRPF personnel went missing after the gunfight between maoists and security personnel near the Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh. Later, maoists had released an old photo of the missing CRPF jawan.

22 soldiers were killed in April 3 encounter; the CRPF commando has been released after more than 100 hours in captivity.

The jawan's release came a day after his wife appealed to the government to ensure her husband's safe release. The relatives of Manhas and others had staged a protest and blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway on Wednesday