State offers talks with Maoists for release of abducted collector

Even as the Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna, who was abducted by the suspected Maoists on Wednesday evening remains untraced, the state government is exploring different channels to secure his release.

Conceding to one of the demands of the abductors, the government has ordered stop of all combing operations against the red ultras in the state.

The state government has also offered talks with Maoist groups to secure the release of Krishna.

“We are open to all channels of negotiations with the Maoists. These talks can take place either at the district or the state level. The state government has also given instructions for ending combing operations. Besides, we have approached Swami Agnivesh who has offered to mediate on the issue”, secretary (home), UN Behera told mediapersons here.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the situation in the wake of Krishna’s abduction, said, “I have appealed on the floor of the house for the release of the collector and the junior engineer. The young collector is known for his hard work for the tribals and I hope that my appeal is heeded to.”

The Opposition MLAs on Thursday created a pandemonium on the floor of the house over the abduction of the Malkangiri district collector, demanding a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue.

Normal life in Malkangiri was thrown out of gear in Malkangiri district and people from all walks of the society including the school children and government employees participated in a rally in the district headquarter town, appealing to the abductors for releasing Krishna.

Similar rallies were also held in several other places including Koraput, Jaipur, Baliguda and Phulabani towns in Kandhamal district of the Maoist infest areas.

The Maoists had set two conditions for the release of the abducted collector and set a deadline of two days for his release. The conditions are stopping the joint combing operations and to release all the jailed Maoist activists.

The district collector along with a junior engineer Pabitra Majhi were abducted by a group of about 50 left wing ultras from a remote area of Malkanagiri district, when they were going to inspect the rural electrification work under Rajiv Gandhi Gramini Vidyutkarana Yojana (RGGGVY) after attending a mega camp at Badapada in Chitrakonda. It is for the first time that the Maoists have abducted an IAS officer in the state.