Bhubaneswar, February 20: Maoist-handpicked mediators today said “more time” was needed to secure the release of abducted Malkangiri District Collector R V Krishna and an engineer after the first round of talks with Orissa government amid moves indicating that some Naxals may be released on bail in line with the extremists’ demand.
30-year-old Krishna, a 2005 batch IAS officer, and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi, abducted by the Naxals on February 16 from Chitrakonda area, are safe, Home Secretary U N Behera said after talks with the two Andhra Pradesh-based mediators.
–PTI