Hostage crisis: Orissa to ''honour'' commitments to mediators
A day after the release of Malkangiri District Collector R V Krishna, Orissa government today assured the Maoist-selected mediators that it would ''honour'' the commitments made during the negotiations held to resolve the hostage crisis.
The assurance was given by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here when the three mediators - Prof Hargopal, Prof R Someswar Rao and Dandapani Mohanty - met him at the state secretariat.
"We will certainly honour the commitments made to the mediators," Patnaik told reporters, adding that as many as 14 issues were mutually agreed between the two sides during the five-day-long negotiations. However, the state government has told the mediators that it will not accept the additional demands made by the out-lawed outfit while keeping Krishna in their captivity.
Among the major agreements with the mediators, the state government has committed that there would be no coercive action by the security forces as long as Maoists do not indulge in any unlawful activities.
"The government made this commitment in response to the Maoists' demand to immediately stop operation green hunt," Home Secretary U N Behera said. On the demand relating to the withdrawal of cases, release of tribals and Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha members in Koraput and Malkangiri district, the state government has committed that it would take steps for withdrawal of minor cases against the adivasis.
"The government of Orissa will, within a period of three months, review cases against the tribals held on charges of Maoists activities and land-related disputes in Narayanpatna area of Koraput district," the Home Secretary said.
Regarding the Maoists' demand for release of its central committee member Ashtosh Sen and other members - including Sriramlu Srinivasalu, Gananath Patra, Jeevan Bose, Ganti Prasadam, Kandula Sirisha, Andaluri Eswari and Sarita - currently in jail, the state government agreed that it would take steps for withdrawal of the November 13, 2010 case against them.
While Ganti Prasadam had already been granted bail, the state government committed that the matter would be examined on merit regarding the others.
