Speaking to reporters after the fourth day of talks with state government officials, interlocutor G. Hargopal appealed to the Maoists to keep their word and release Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna, and not insist that that fresh conditions be met.
“Myself, Ganti Prasad and Mr Varavara Rao had given an assurance to the Orissa government that collector Krishna and junior engineer Majhi would be released in 48 hours. The new conditions will complicate matters. We are appealing to the Maoists to honour their word, which we gave to the state government, and release the collector by tomorrow,” Prof. G. Hargopal said. Mr Dandapani Mohanty, another interlocutor, said the new conditions were “unacceptable”. “The Maoists have asked us (the three interlocutors) to be physically present in Malkangiri. Two of my friends — Prof. G. Hargopal and Prof. R. Someswar Rao — are not well and cannot travel to such a distant place. I appeal to the Maoists to release the collector forthwith,” Mr Mohanty said.
The Maoists have sought the immediate release of Ashutosh Sen, Sriramulu Srinivas, Gananath Patra, Tapan Mishra, Ghanti Prasad Rao, alias Prasadam, Ishwari, Rosa Mandangi Saritha, Sirisha, alias Padma, and Gokul Kuldipia.
Earlier on Wednesday, the rebels had set free junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi. On his arrival at district headquarters Malkangiri, Mr Majhi had said the “collector was well. The Maoists told me that he will be released soon.”
The volte face by the Maoists has left the government in shock. No official was ready to comment on the new development. “All we can say now is that the state government has accepted all the 14 demands of the Maoists and now they should honour their word and release the collector,” a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.