Collector’s abduction: mediators leave for Tarmetla

Raipur, April 28, 2012



As the hostage crisis involving abducted Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon entered the eighth day today, mediators from the rebel side left for Tarmetla forests apparently to brief Maoists on talks they had with Chhattisgarh Government on their demands for releasing the IAS officer.



N. Baijendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Raman Singh, told PTI that the mediators, who have held two rounds of talks with the Government-appointed interlocutors to resolve the crisis, expressed their desire to visit Tarmetla, a Naxal stronghold, in Sukma district.



Accordingly, the Government made necessary arrangements for their visit and assured them of adequate security, he said.



Additional Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operation) Ramnivas said B. D. Sharma and Professor G. Hargopal, who was holding talks on behalf of the Maoists, have reached Chintanlar by a helicopter.



He said from there, they will leave for Tarmetla, a dense forested area which can be reached only on two-wheelers.



About three days ago, CPI leader Manish Kunjam had gone to Tarmetla on a motorcycle to handover medicines for Mr. Menon (32), who was kidnapped by Maoists on April 21.



Earlier, talking to reporters, Mr. Sharma, a former IAS officer, said he may return to Raipur by the evening. He expressed confidence that the crisis will be resolved soon.



Mr. Sharma and Mr. Hargopal have held two rounds of talks with Government interlocutors Nirmala Buch and S.K.Mishra, but no breakthrough has been achieved yet.



In exchange for the 2006 IAS officer, Maoists have demanded release of 17 of their jailed leaders, halt to the anti-Maoist offensive "Operation Green Hunt" and sending security forces in Bastar to barracks.



The Chief Minister said yesterday that the demands of Maoists would be considered only "within the legal framework".


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