Even as the Orissa government is officially negotiating with the mediators of the CPI (Maoists) organisation at Bhubaneswar, it is also trying to open a second line of negotiation channel directly with the Maoists.
The state government’s decision to have a direct negotiation with Maoists involved in the abduction of Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi has come as it has now been realised that the release of the two officials would take some more days if the official negotiation route is followed.
?Feelers have been sent to contact the abductors and start a direct negotiation for the release of the two officials?, sources in told FE.
The bail plea for Ghanti Prasadam, Padma and three others, whose release the Maoists are demanding, has been filed in the High Court on Monday. On the other hand, the bail plea of the Srinivasa Sriramulu, who is in the Malkangiri jail from 2007, has been reserved till Tuesday. As the legal procedures have to be followed for the release of the Maoists leaders, it would take some more time before the government could give any firm assurance to the interlocutors.
Meanwhile, the state principal secretary for home Upendra Behera and principal secretary, Panchyatiraj, SN Tripathy had one round of discussion with the mediators on Monday. C Hargopal, RS Rao and Jana Adhikar Manch convenor Dandapani Mohanty participated in the negotiation.
?The negotiation is going on,? CM Naveen Patnaik said.