Orissa agrees to talks with Maoists for official’s release
February 17th, 2011 - 9:58 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, Feb 17 (IANS) The Orissa government Thursday evening said it is ready for talks with the Maoists for the release of the Malkangiri district collector abducted by the rebels a day earlier.”The government is ready to hold dialogue on the matter,” state Home Secretary U.N. Behera told reporters.
“Instruction has been issued to halt all combing operations in the state,” he said.
Behera said the discussion can be held at district level or at state level in the home department.
“The abductors can hold discussions with us through their representative,” Behera said. He also said the government has kept all options open.
Referring to a proposal made by social activist Swami Agnivesh on some television channels to mediate between the government and the Maoists, Behera said the government has contacted him and requested him to facilitate the negotiations.
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer R. Veenel Krishna was kidnapped from the Chitrakonda area in Malkangiri district along with junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi by around six rebels Wednesday evening.
Giving a 48-hour ultimatum, Maoists have demanded a halt on combing operations and release of the rebels arrested in the past if the government wants to see the abducted officials free.
- Maoists abduct collector, Orissa agrees to talks (Intro Roundup) - Feb 17, 2011
- Orissa begins backdoor talks with Maoists for collector's release - Feb 18, 2011
- Orissa stops anti-Maoist operations after official's abduction (Fourth Lead) - Feb 17, 2011
- Hundreds hold rally seeking Orissa collector's release - Feb 17, 2011
- Maoists set conditions for Orissa collector's release (Third Lead) - Feb 17, 2011
- Orissa collector still hostage, Maoists snap road links (Lead) - Feb 18, 2011
- Malkangiri Collector kidnapping: Talks on with Maoists - Feb 18, 2011
- Orissa-mediators' talks end, to resume Monday - Feb 20, 2011
- Backdoor talks on, Orissa urges Maoists to extend deadline (Second Lead) - Feb 18, 2011
- Maoists have assured safety of abducted officials: Orissa Home Secretary - Feb 20, 2011
- Maoists release Malkangiri Collector Krishna - Feb 24, 2011
- Backdoor talks on, Maoists urged to extend deadline (Roundup) - Feb 18, 2011
- Agnivesh appeals to Maoists to release Malkangir collector - Feb 24, 2011
- Maoists abduct district collector in Orissa (Second Lead) - Feb 17, 2011
- Maoists abduct collector, Orissa halts operations (Roundup) - Feb 17, 2011
Tags: abducted, abductors, behera, dialogue, home secretary, indian administrative service, junior engineer, krishna, majhi, maoists, mohan, negotiations, orissa government, proposal, rebels, swami, television channels, ultimatum, wednesday evening