In Orissa, the Maoists have extended the deadline given for meeting their demands till 5.30 this evening to free abducted Malkangiri district magistrate and collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi. The 24-hour extension came after the Orissa Government agreed to negotiate the issue through academicians and activists Prof Haragopal and Prof RS Rao, who have been propped up by the red-ultras for representing them. However, the Maoists have set a precondition to release two jailed senior Maoists leaders, Ramulu Srinivasulu and Ganti Prasadam to make them part of the nogotiation process.