Raipur: Three young students from Pune who were abducted by Maoists from Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh when they were on a bicycle tour have been released.

The students were reported missing since December 30. The reports say that the students’ release was possible after hectic negotiations between local villagers and the Maoists.

They were on a peace tour of Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The students were supposed to reach Malkangiri in Odisha on January 10. The students have been identified as Adarsh Patil, Bilash Valake and Shrikrishna Shewale.

Maoist Papa Rao is said to have been the mastermind behind the abduction according to reports.
All three students had gone missing while they were travelling on Katru-Basaguda road in Bijapur district of Bastar division.