Bhubaneswar, Feb 18 (PTI) Asking Maoists to extend their two-day deadline, Orissa government today said it has established contact with two mediators handpicked by the Naxals to negotiate the release of abducted Malkangiri District Collector R V Krishna and a junior engineer.
"They (Maoists) had given three names for negotiation. We have established contact with Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal (both from Andhra Pradesh). They are willing to mediate in the matter," Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar after a marathon meeting at the chief minister''s office here.
The two mediators have accepted the state government''s request to issue an appeal for extension of two-day deadline given by Naxals who kidnapped Krishna, a 30-year-old IAS officer, and the junior engineer Pabitra Majhi on Wednesday, the Chief Secretary said.
He said the state government has also contacted social activist Swami Agnivesh, who indicated that the Naxals were considering extending the time-frame of two days to meet their seven-point demands including halt to anti-Naxal joint operations, which has already been conceded, withdrawal of BSF, release of 700 tribal Naxals and scrapping of Polavaram water-sharing project with Andhra Pradesh.
Agnivesh said in New Delhi that he was willing to act as a negotiator if Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself talks to him and the state government is willing to release the jailed tribals.
The Chief Secretary said the government would consider the demands made by the Maoists. "Many demands may come up during discussions. We are open to discussions," he said.
Asked whether the state government would agree to the Maoist demand for release of seven persons, the chief secretary said, "Those will come up during the discussions with mediators."
The Chief Minister also appealed to the abductors to extend the deadline. "We have also appealed to them (Naxals) not to harm the collector and the junior engineer in their captivity," Patnaik said.
Meanwhile, social scientist Hargopal told a TV channel that the deadline set by the Maoists should be extended which is the first requirement for negotiations.
Similarly, the state government should adopt a positive approach and look into the demands of the Maoists, he said, adding it should not be difficult to release on bail some persons, including women, and it is in the government''s purview. .
"They (Maoists) had given three names for negotiation. We have established contact with Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal (both from Andhra Pradesh). They are willing to mediate in the matter," Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar after a marathon meeting at the chief minister''s office here.
The two mediators have accepted the state government''s request to issue an appeal for extension of two-day deadline given by Naxals who kidnapped Krishna, a 30-year-old IAS officer, and the junior engineer Pabitra Majhi on Wednesday, the Chief Secretary said.
He said the state government has also contacted social activist Swami Agnivesh, who indicated that the Naxals were considering extending the time-frame of two days to meet their seven-point demands including halt to anti-Naxal joint operations, which has already been conceded, withdrawal of BSF, release of 700 tribal Naxals and scrapping of Polavaram water-sharing project with Andhra Pradesh.
Agnivesh said in New Delhi that he was willing to act as a negotiator if Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself talks to him and the state government is willing to release the jailed tribals.
The Chief Secretary said the government would consider the demands made by the Maoists. "Many demands may come up during discussions. We are open to discussions," he said.
Asked whether the state government would agree to the Maoist demand for release of seven persons, the chief secretary said, "Those will come up during the discussions with mediators."
The Chief Minister also appealed to the abductors to extend the deadline. "We have also appealed to them (Naxals) not to harm the collector and the junior engineer in their captivity," Patnaik said.
Meanwhile, social scientist Hargopal told a TV channel that the deadline set by the Maoists should be extended which is the first requirement for negotiations.
Similarly, the state government should adopt a positive approach and look into the demands of the Maoists, he said, adding it should not be difficult to release on bail some persons, including women, and it is in the government''s purview. .
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