Odisha government is having a tough job at hand in rescuing the abducted Italians and BJD MLA from Maoists.
On Saturday, two negotiators for the ultras, B.D. Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty suspended all talks between the state government and the Naxals.
‘Atrocities by both parties’ were cited by the interlocutors as the reason.
The negotiators appealed to the Maoists to release all the three on humanitarian grounds. Two rounds of talks between the government and Maoists had failed and the third talk was to be held on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier on the day, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided to send two ministers of his government to the state's Korapur District to negotiate with the Maoists and seek the release of abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka.
Patnaik also revealed that his government will continue negotiations the rebels for the release of two Italian hostages abducted eleven days ago.
Patnaik's statement on the next steps being taken on the two kidnapping episodes came after he had chaired a high level security meeting of top police and state government officials. Patnaik also said that he had informed Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the issue.
Proceedings in the state assembly were disrupted and adjourned on Friday and Saturday over both cases of abduction by the Maoists.