Orissa govt crouches to Maoists demands?

Malkangiri/Orissa, Feb 20: It's the fourth day that Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pradip Majhi have been abducted by the Maoists in Orissa. Now, citing tremendous pressure, the state government has showed eagerness towards the demands made by the Ultras, sources informed on Sunday, Feb 20.

The two mediators between the rebels and the government, Professor Hargopal and Professor Someswar Rao initiated talks with the two sides. Though Maoists have warned that talks would not be fruitful unless government approves their demands.

One of the seven demands made by the rebels is - release of two Maoists leaders, Ganti Prasad and Sriramulu Srinivas.

Sources informed that the government may drop or dilute serious criminal charges for lack of evidence against them, so that the court may consider granting them bail.

However, Chief Secretary B K Patnaik claimed, "As per the information available with us, the two abducted persons are safe and in good health in the captivity of the Maoists."

OneIndia News