New Delhi: Negotiations to secure the release of the abducted Malkangiri district collector and a junior engineer will begin on Saturday night.
The two mediators handpicked by the Naxals will arrive in Bhubaneswar on Saturday eveing to hold discussions with the Orissa government on the demands made by the Maoists.
The Orissa government said that both the hostages are safe.
The Naxals on Friday extended the deadline for the government to fulfill their demands by another 48 hours.
Meanwhile, IAS officers society of Orissa protested in front of the state assembly for the release of the abducted officer.
"Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal (both from Andhra Pradesh) will reach here today ... then we will start discussions on the demands made by the Maoists," the Chief Minister said in a statement in the state assembly.
The two mediators were handpicked by the Naxals to negotiate the release of 30-year-old IAS officer R V Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi.
Noting that the Maoists have extended the deadline for fulfilment of their demands, the chief minister said the government has requested the Naxals not to harm the duo.
The state government has already stopped anti-Naxal combing operations across the state paving the way for negotiations, he said.
