Click to play videoBhubaneshwar: Orissa Assembly witnessed uproarious scene on Friday over the abduction of Malkangiri collector R Veenel Krishna by the Naxals. Opposition MLAs belonging to the Congress disrupted the proceedings and not allowing Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat to finish his speech. Congress MLAs also surrounded the Speaker's podium and created a ruckus on the ongoing hostage crisis.
The MLAs demanded action against Naxals and an early release of Krishna and a junior engineer Pabitra Majhi. The duo was abducted by the Naxals on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zone Committee - the Naxal organisation which is believed to have abducted Krihna and Majhi - has recommended three mediators after the Orissa government invited the rebels for talks and stopped combing operations. Agreeing to the Naxals' demand, the state government has already suspended Operation Greenhunt.
"We have stopped all combing operations in the whole of Orissa state. We have invited Naxals for discussions at the district and state level," said Orissa Home Secretary UN Behera.
The mediators suggested by the Naxals are Dandapani Mohanty, the convener of the Political Prisoners Release Committee, retired professor R Someswara Rao and Dr Haragopal, a professor and civil rights activist.
One of the mediators appealed to the Naxals to extend the deadline by 24 hours, which is to end on Friday night.
"I was approached by a secretary of Orissa government. What I suggested is that Orissa government can consider the demand of four women who have been arrested. They are not activists. They can also consider the demand of Gurudas who is Marxist leader in Andhra Pradesh who has been arrested in Vizag. He can also help the Orissa government in resolving the crisis. I am appealing through your channel to the Naxals to extend the deadline and not harm the two people who they have arrested," said Haragopal.
Krisnha's collegue and IAS officer Arabinda Padhee called him a pro-tribal officer and appealed for his safe release.
"He is a very dynamic young pro-tribal officer. He has done excellent work in all field of administration work in the district. He tried to bring development in such a difficult area and in spite of difficult situation he is doing an excellent work. His kidnapping shocks everyone. We would appeal that he should be release immediately," said Padhee.
Majhi's family also appealed for his release
"Through the media, I appeal to the Maoists to free my son. Please don't keep him captive. He has done nothing wrong," said his mother.
The families of the hostages and over 300 tribals have also come out and appealed for the release of both men. This is the first time that tribals have openly opposed the Naxals who claim to fight for their rights. Protests marches and rallies were also organised at Malkangiri, Koratpur and Rourkela demanding the release of Krishna and Majhi.
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