No information of Menon even after 7 days

     Raipur, Sukma, Korba, April 27, 2012: Even after seven days there was no direct information about Sukma District Collector Alex V F Paul Menon V, who was kidnapped by the Maoists on April 21 from Majhipara.

     The family members and the government were expecting the Maoists to release some photos or videos of the 2006 batch IAS and even CPI leader Manish Kunjam failed to meet him when he went to Tadmetla forest to hand over medicines for the unwell collector.

     However, the Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh today said he was hopeful of a positive result of the talks between the interlocutors of Maoists and the state government.

     The state government was doing every thing to secure the release of the Collector and he was quite hopeful of a positive result, the Chief Minister told reporters at Korba today.

     Also talking to media persons at Raipur, Singh indicated of a positive result of the talk.

     The talks between the interlocutors from Government and the Maoist sides were moving in the right direction and the state government was also ready for a peace talk, Singh said.

     Meanwhile, the interlocutors today had a second round of discussion to find a solution to secure the release of kidnapped Collector Menon.

     Interlocutors were reluctant to speak on the matter, although the day-two discussion was started at 9.00 AM today.

     However, sources said the interlocutors from the Maoists side might go to the forest to brief the rebels about the talk and after that they would further talk to the government side to find a solid solution.

     When the 2006-batch IAS officer was on a tour of the Majhipara area in Sukma District on April 21 during Gram Suraj Abhiyan, he was confronted by the Maoists guerrilla and after exchange of fire, the civil servant was kidnapped by Maoists after killing both his body guards.