Bhubaneswar: District Collector Vineel Krishna and Junior Engineer Pabitra Majhi are no longer hostages, say Naxals who kidnapped them in Orissa a week ago. However, the two men have yet to reach their home in Malkangiri.
Click to Expand & PlayThe Naxals say that "logistics" are to blame for the delay.
Last night, the Naxals said Mr Krishna and Mr Majhi were being escorted out of the camps where they were being kept in the forests along the Andhra-Orissa border. Today, representatives said that the terrain was tough to navigate in the dark.
Maoists sources have told NDTV that the 2 government officers would be handed over to local intermediaries by 5 pm this evening.
It took several rounds of negotiations between the government and a team of three mediators appointed by the Naxals to work out the terms and conditions of the release. They include the review of several cases against Naxals active in the area, as well as their family members. The government has also agreed that no coercive action will be taken to drive out Naxal rebels if their activities are not illegal.
The state government has also agreed to the release of Naxal leader Ganti Prasadam who is in jail. His bail application was filed on Monday and will be heard today in the Orissa High Court.
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