The Chhattisgarh government has nominated two mediators to hold talks with Maoists to seek the safe release of Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon. The mediators are former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh Mrs. Nirmala Buch and former chief secretary of Chhattisgarh Mr. S.K.Mishra.

Earlier, Prashant Bhushan named by Maoists as one of the three mediators refused to mediate with the government. He however, urged the government to address the issues raised by Maoists.

Maoists named three mediators after Chhattisgarh government offered to hold talks to secure the release of the Sukma district collector. Two other mediators named by Maoists are former National SC/ST Commission chairperson B D Sharma and president of All India Adivasi Mahasabha Manish Kunjam. Kunjam has also declined the Maoists' offer citing regional circumstances and party obligations.

An all party meeting yesterday appealed to the Maoists for the safe release of abducted District Collector. The state Chief Minister Mr. Raman Singh has said that government has not received any information about the demands of Maoists for the release of Mr. Menon. He said, whenever the dialogue takes place, it will be seen which of the conditions could be met and which could not.