Hostage crisis: Orissa-mediators' talks inconclusive, to resume tom

The Orissa government's talks with mediators chosen by the Maoists for the release of a district collector and an engineer abducted by the rebels ended inconclusively today. The talks will resume tomorrow.

The Orissa government's talks with mediators chosen by the Maoists for the release of a district collector and an engineer abducted by the rebels ended inconclusively on Sunday. The talks will resume on Monday.

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Three negotiators -- Dandapani Mohanty and human rights activists and academicians G. Haragopal and R Someswar Rao -- held a prolonged discussion with state Home Secretary U N Behera and Panchayati Raj Secretary S N Tripathy.

"We had a detailed discussion today (Sunday). The discussion was held in a congenial manner. Further discussion will be held tomorrow (Monday)," Behera said at a press conference.

No combing operation against Maoists will be conducted in the state till the crisis is over, Behera said.

"There shall not be any combing operation," he said.

Maoists have not caused any harm to the hostages, he said.

The district collector of Malkangiri, R Vineel Krishna, and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi were abducted by Maoists Wednesday evening.

This is the first time an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official has been kidnapped in the state.