Maoists' mediators sum up talks as rebels hike demands

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Interlocutors for the Maoists and the mediators appointed by Chhattisgarh government held talks for over five hours Friday to find a way for safe release of Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, even as the rebels increased their demand, now seeking release of 17 of their jailed colleagues as against the original eight.

The source also added that government mediators have made the state government's stand clear on the rebels' two demands – release of 17 jailed Maoists and halt of anti-Maoist offensive 'Operation Green Hunt'.

"Now all depends on Maoists how they respond to our stand on their two demands. The safe release of abducted district collector Alex Paul Menon is our top priority now," Chief Minister Raman Singh told media persons here.

The ultras had asked Chhattisgarh Government to clarify its stand on their demands for release of abducted Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon, and expressed their inability to extend the deadline without receiving a clarification in this regard.

In an e-mail sent to the media, the Naxals said they have received through the media the Government's request for extension of deadline for release of the 2006 batch IAS officer kidnapped on April 21. However, unless the state administration clarifies its stand on their demands it was difficult for them to take a call on extension of the deadline (original deadline passed on April 25), they said.

Reason behind abduction

The Maoists criticised the Government for ‘dilly- dallying’ on every issue related to the hostage crisis and said the administration does not appear serious about the fate of the abducted bureaucrat.

In another e-mail, the Naxals elaborated on the reasons behind the District Collector's abduction. Under his tenure, Sukma district police allegedly murdered a youth and passed it off as a case of suicide, the e-mail alleged. They also accused the police of committing ‘atrocities’ on people in the district.

More talks

Reports say that now both Maoist interlocutors, Hyderabad-based Professor G. Hargopal and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer B.D. Sharma – who had served as district collector of Bastar as well, will head towards rebels-commanded Tarmetla area in Sukma district, where Maoists had massacred 76 security personnel in April 2010, the biggest ever attack carried out by the rebels till date.

Top official sources said the Chhattisgarh government would arrange special aircraft to carry Hargopal and Sharma to Tarmetla where they would probably brief Maoists about the two-day discussion – Thursday and Friday – they had with the Chhattisgarh government representatives – Nirmala Buch, a former Madhya Pradesh chief secretary, and S.K. Mishra, a former state chief secretary.