Raipur/New Delhi: Emergency medicines were rushed yesterday for abducted Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, who is being held by Maoists in Chhattisgarh for the past three days, even as uncertainty prevailed over talks for his release.
With hours to go for the Maoist deadline, the Chhattisgarh government yesterday named two former chief secretaries to negotiate with the guerrillas after two of the three mediators named by the left-wing extremists refused to join the talks.
Meanwhile, medicines and clothes were rushed to Menon who is being held in a forest hideout in Chintagufa close to National Highway 221, adjoining the Andhra Pradesh district of Khamam, tribal leader Manish Kunjam, who is acting as a Maoist mediator, said.
Medicines for asthma, dehydration and eyedrops were collected from Menon's wife Asha by Kunjam and taken to the hideout.
Blow to talks
Meanwhile, in a blow to talks for Menon's release, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said he could not mediate while the officer was still in Maoist custody and Manish Kunjam, also named as mediator, cited political reasons to opt out.
Late on Monday, the Maoists had nominated Bhushan, former National Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Commission chairperson B.D. Sharma and All India Adivasi Mahasabha president Kunjam as mediators.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh has named two officials to mediate on behalf of the government.
"Former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh Nirmala Buch and former chief secretary of Chhattisgarh S.K. Mishra will negotiate with Maoists on behalf of the Chhattisgarh government for the early and safe release of Menon," Singh told reporters.
The Maoists are demanding that Chhattisgarh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government free its eight key jailed colleagues and have set April 25 as their deadline. Their other demand is that government should freeze operation Green Hunt against them.
Bhushan said he considered the Maoists' demands for release of innocent tribals and ending operation Green Hunt "completely justified".
The Congress party reacted sharply.
"If he thinks [Maoists' demands] are justified, he should go and talk with them. He should understand the plight of the families of those who have been abducted. But who can talk sense with such a senseless person," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said.
Chhattisgarh home minister Nankiram Kanwar sought to clarify that Menon was "completely safe".
With hours to go for the Maoist deadline, the Chhattisgarh government yesterday named two former chief secretaries to negotiate with the guerrillas after two of the three mediators named by the left-wing extremists refused to join the talks.
Meanwhile, medicines and clothes were rushed to Menon who is being held in a forest hideout in Chintagufa close to National Highway 221, adjoining the Andhra Pradesh district of Khamam, tribal leader Manish Kunjam, who is acting as a Maoist mediator, said.
Medicines for asthma, dehydration and eyedrops were collected from Menon's wife Asha by Kunjam and taken to the hideout.
Blow to talks
Meanwhile, in a blow to talks for Menon's release, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan said he could not mediate while the officer was still in Maoist custody and Manish Kunjam, also named as mediator, cited political reasons to opt out.
Late on Monday, the Maoists had nominated Bhushan, former National Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Commission chairperson B.D. Sharma and All India Adivasi Mahasabha president Kunjam as mediators.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh has named two officials to mediate on behalf of the government.
"Former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh Nirmala Buch and former chief secretary of Chhattisgarh S.K. Mishra will negotiate with Maoists on behalf of the Chhattisgarh government for the early and safe release of Menon," Singh told reporters.
The Maoists are demanding that Chhattisgarh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government free its eight key jailed colleagues and have set April 25 as their deadline. Their other demand is that government should freeze operation Green Hunt against them.
Bhushan said he considered the Maoists' demands for release of innocent tribals and ending operation Green Hunt "completely justified".
The Congress party reacted sharply.
"If he thinks [Maoists' demands] are justified, he should go and talk with them. He should understand the plight of the families of those who have been abducted. But who can talk sense with such a senseless person," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said.
Chhattisgarh home minister Nankiram Kanwar sought to clarify that Menon was "completely safe".
