Uncertainty persisted on Wednesday on the fate of the two Italians abducted by Maoists in Odisha last week with talks likely to be delayed as it was still not clear who would represent the guerrillas, a senior official said.
The rebels late on Tuesday extended the deadline for the state government's acceptance of their demands to Wednesday evening but the process suffered repeated setbacks over the choice of interlocutors.
The Maoists had late Monday announced three names - senior rebel leader Narayan Sanyal, social activist Dandapani Mohanty and human rights activist and lawyer Biswapriya Kanungo to mediate on their behalf.
While Kanungo immediately said no, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday evening refused to accept Narayan Sanyal as a mediator as he had been convicted for life in a criminal case.
Patnaik asked the rebels to suggest alternatives. The Maoists then announced that human rights activist Prafulla Samontra and tribal expert B.D. Sharma would represent them. But this too did not work as Samontra refused to participate saying he had no faith in the government.
Samontra, who has been agitating against displacements by various industrial projects in the state, said the government did trust him or his movement. "There is no meaning talking with the government," he said.
"Unless the rebels make it clear who will represent them, it is very difficult to start talks," a senior official in the state home department told agencies.
The state government has said three senior administrative officials - P.K. Jena, Santosh Sarangi and U.N. Behera - will represent it in the negotiation process. Now the ball is in the Maoists court, the official added.
Bosusco Paolo and Claudio Colangelo were abducted by Maoists on the morning of March 14 from Kandhamal district. The state government and the rebels said the hostages are safe and in good health.
The abductors, who have a list of 13 demands, had earlier given a deadline of Tuesday evening.