In Odisha, Maoists have set free abducted junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi. He was freed this afternoon by the Maoists at Jantapai near Chitrakonda, about 90 km from Malkangiri. Chitrakonda block Tehsildar, D Gopalkrishna, confirmed the release of Majhi to All India Radio. However, the Maoists are yet to release Malkangiri district magistrate and collector R Vinee Krishna. Both Majhi and Krishna were abducted by Maoists from the hilly terrains of Chitrakonda last Wednesday. The release of Majhi is seen as the first result of the negotiation between the Odisha Government and the three mediators appointed by the Maoists held at Bhubaneswar. The mediators had said both Malkangiri district collector and junior engineer would be released by Thursday.