The Chhattisgarh government has said that the safe release of the abducted collector of Sukma Mr. Alex Paul Menon is in its top priority . Stating this in capital Raipur a short-while ago in a press conference, the Chief minister Dr. Raman Singh said that the talks between the negotiators of both the government and the Maoists are going on. He expressed the hope that an early solution to the present situation will emerge soon. When asked about whether the government will concede to the demands of the Maoists to release the 17 naxalites presently in jail, Dr. Singh said that’s why the talks are being held. He however clarified that the law will take its own course. He reiterated his government’s commitment to do all it could, to ensure the release the collector from naxal captivity. On being asked if the state government will continue the present rounds of negotiations for peace talks with the Maoists as well, the chief minister said that it is a national problem and all the affected states need to agree. On being asked about the making of a unified policy on hostage crisis to prevent its recurrence in the future, Dr. Singh said that it should be taken up at the central level. Replying to a query on the likely visit of the Maoists’ mediators to Sukma and beyond, Dr. Singh said that the government will provide all possible help to them in this regard, including the mode of conveyance such as the helicopter whenever they want to go. The Maoists’ interlocutors Mr. B.D.Sharma and Prof. Hargopal were to visit Tadmetla in Sukma district today which was later cancelled. Earlier, in a short briefing to the media soon after the second rounds of the talks held today in Raipur, one of the government negotiators Mrs. Nirmala Buch said that the talks were positive and expressed the hope that a solution to the issue will come out soon.