Bhubaneswar: Orissa government sources on Saturday said that negotiations were on with the Naxals and the government was examining the names of the prisoners whose release has been demanded by the Maoists.
The Orissa government has agreed to release two prisoners but the Andhra Pradesh government was ready to release one prisoner only. Negotiations were on between both the states.
Naxals demanded unconditional release of some 700 jailed tribal ultras as one of the demands in their seven-point charter. However the mediators felt that release of a couple of "key persons" would facilitate the process of securing safe return of the kidnapped officials, sources said.
The Orissa Assembly on Saturday adopted a unanimous resolution appealing for the safe release of the 30-year-old collector and the junior engineer voicing deep concern over their abduction by the red rebels.
In a bid to pave the way for negotiations for their release, the state government conceded one of the demands of ultras by halting anti-naxal operations since Thursday.
The rebels also want withdrawal of BSF and scrapping of Pollavaram multi-purpose dam project in Andhra Pradesh as it is expected to submerge vast areas in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district.
The final negotiations, with the two mediators handpicked by the Naxals, to secure the release of the abducted officials will begin on Saturday night.
The Orissa government said that both the hostages are safe.
"As per reports the abducted IAS officer and the junior engineer are safe and we are waiting for negotiator to come after which we will decide on future course of action," said Orissa Chief Secretary BK Patnaik.
Abducted Collector Vineel Krishna has also spoken to his wife.
The Naxals on Friday extended the deadline for the government to fulfill their demands by another 48 hours.
Meanwhile, IAS Officers Society of Orissa protested in front of the state assembly for the release of the abducted officer.
"Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal (both from Andhra Pradesh) will reach here today ... then we will start discussions on the demands made by the Maoists," the Chief Minister said in a statement in the state assembly.
The two mediators were handpicked by the Naxals to negotiate the release of 30-year-old IAS officer RV Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi.
Noting that the Maoists have extended the deadline for fulfillment of their demands, the chief minister said the government has requested the Naxals not to harm the duo.
The state government has already stopped anti-Naxal combing operations across the state paving the way for negotiations, he said.
(With additional inputs from PTI)
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