Naveen happy at end of hostage crisis

Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (PTI) Expressing happiness over therelease of Malkangiri Collector, R V Krishna by Maoists,Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tonight said the stategovernment did not bow down but made some commitments.

"I am very glad that both the collector and the juniorengineer have been released," Patnaik told reporters shortlyafter Krishna was freed in Chitrakonda area of Malkangiridistrict.

"The state government did not bow own... but certaincommitments have been made," he said replying to a query.

Patnaik said he had got the information aboutKrishna''s release from Malkangiri district administration.

Chief Secretary, B K Patnaik said it was a greatrelief for the state government. The Maoists had releasedjunior engineer Pabitra Majhi yesterday and the districtcollector tonight.

He also said the government had not buckled under anypressure.

The Malkangiri collector was released before thedeadline, Home Secretary U N Behera said, adding he had spokento Krishna after he was let off.

"Krishna appears cheerful," he said.

Describing the nine-day hostage crisis as challenge tothe state government, he thanked the mediators for helping indefusing the crisis.