Malkangiri (Orissa), February 21: Signalling start of the process for freeing rebels, bail was granted by a fast track court today to hardcore Maoist Sriramulu Srinivasulu, whose release is being demanded by abductors of Malkangiri district Collector R V Krishna and an engineer.
Additional District Judge of the Fast Track Court P K Karna granted bail to Srinivasulu in a case involving criminal conspiracy and sedition charges on a bond of Rs 25,000 and surety of equal amount.
He was the first naxal to get a bail from among the ultras whose release is being demanded by the captors of Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi.
However, the ultra would remain in jail for now in connection with another case, his lawyer R P Patnaik said.
–Agencies