Malkangiri Collector kidnapping: Maoists extend deadline

BHUBANESWAR - Maoists have extended the two-day deadline indefinitely for the Orissa Government to meet their demands in return for the release of Malkangiri District Collector R V Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi.

The ultras extended the deadline on Friday night following an appeal from the state government even as they exploded a landmine on a key road snapping links between Malkangiri district and rest of Orissa.

Retired professor of economics R Someswar Rao and professor of Central University, Hyderabad, Haragopal (both from Andhra Pradesh), who were handpicked by the Naxals to negotiate the release of Krishna and Majhi told Orissa Home Secretary U N Behera that the deadline has been extended since some contacts were being made with the Maoists.

The two professors, who have been chosen as mediators, insisted that the deadline must be extended before any negotiations could be held. They are likely to reach Bhubaneswar today.

Social activist Swami Agnivesh, who has been contacted by the Orissa Government, to mediate the release of the two captives, also confirmed that the deadline has been extended.

“The Maoists have extended the deadline indefinitely. There is some progress,” said Agnivesh on Friday night.

Swami Agnivesh has also made an appeal to the Maoists not to cause any bodily harm to the two hostages.

Earlier on Friday, Orissa Government said that it has established contact with two of the three mediators named by the Maoists for negotiations.

“They (Maoists) had given three names for negotiation. We have established contact with Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal. They are willing to mediate in the matter,” said Chief Secretary B K Patnaik.

“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 and Majhi on Wednesday,” he added.

Orissa Government has also contacted Swami Agnivesh in this regard.

Krishna, who was on his way back after attending a health camp in Chitrakonda, has been missing since Thursday evening.

The Maoists had earlier sent a note through a junior engineer accompanying Krishna demanding immediate halt to Operation Green Hunt and release of jailed Maoists. (ANI)