Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (IANS) The collector of Orissa's Malkangri district, who has been missing since past several hours, is suspected to have been kidnapped by Moists, a top state government official said Thursday.

The collector R. Veenel Krishna has not returned to the district headquarters from Chitrakonda area where he along with several other officials went to attend some public relation meetings Wednesday morning.

"We are hearing that he has been abducted by Maoists but we are verifying," home secretary U.N. Behera told IANS.

"I have been trying to contact him but not been able to because his mobile was switched off. We are trying to find out what exactly has happened," he said.

Additional district magistrate S.L. Seal said the whereabout of Krishna and two-three others officials have not yet been ascertained.

Inspector general of police (operation) Sanjeev Marik said efforts are on to locate the district collector.

Maoists are active in more then half of Orissa's 30 districts. Malkangiri, about 615 km from here, is considered one of the strong hold of the Maoists.