State officials hold talks with Maoist negotiators

Two mediators named by Maoists to hold discussions with the Orissa government on release of abducted district magistrate R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi today held discussion with state officials here today rekindling hopes of a breakthrough in this hostage crisis.

Two mediators, R Someswar Rao, retired professor of economics, Sambalpur University and G Haragopal, retired professor, Kakatiya University and a civil rights activist were closeted with state home secretary UP Behera and Panchayatraj secretary SN Tripathy at the state guest house here soon after their arrival in the city this morning.

Emerging from more than three hours long meeting Behera said, “the process of negotiation is on. However, the negotiators have assured that the two officials were safe”.