New Delhi: Government on Tuesday said that abducted Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon's health has deteriorated further and hospitalisation may be needed soon. Sources said that more details about his health will be known once the team that has left with medicines comes back. Sources also told CNN-IBN that the government's efforts in the state will suffer a setback if the demand to release hardcore Naxals is met.
Earlier, the Chhattisgarh government on Tuesday announced the names of the new mediators to negotiate with the Naxals who have abducted Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon. The government named SK Mishra, former chief secretary of Chhattisgarh and Nirmala Buch, former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh, as the mediators.
This came after eminent lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Adivasi Mahasabha president Manish Kunjam, who were earlier named as mediators, refused to talk to Naxals on the issue. Bhushan had said, "I'm not going to mediate in this situation. Kidnapping a civilian officer and negotiating on that basis is wrong. I appeal to the Maoists to unconditionally release the officer. Many Naxal demands are justified. Operation Greenhunt and other armed conflicts must end."
The third mediator, former SC/ST commission chief BD Sharma said he was ready to mediate on the issue, adding, "I am waiting for the proposal of the state government."
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh government sent medicines for the abducted IAS officer through Kunjal after Menon's captors released a statement to the local media saying the Collector, who is an asthma patient, was critical. They asked the mediators to bring medicines for him.
According to reports, intelligence officers from three states reached New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the hostage crisis with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
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