In Chhattisgarh, the second meeting of the newly constituted high-power standing committee is in progress in Raipur to review the cases of tribals for whom investigations and prosecutions are pending.

The committee is being attended by its Chairperson Mrs. Nirmala Buch, a former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Secretary and the D.G Police are its members.

Other top officials of the police and administration are also attending the meeting. Its first meeting was held last night soon after the release of the Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon.

The Chhattisgarh government, as per the agreement reached between the mediators of the government and the Maoists for the release of Mr. Menon, constituted the committee barely within 5 minutes of the release of the collector.

The committee is to review the cases of persons, including those of the Maoists, for which investigation and prosecution is still pending in the Chhattisgarh jails.

Briefing newsmen in Sukma this morning, both the Maoists mediators said that the committee is to review the cases of tribals for whom investigations and prosecutions are pending.

Meanwhile, Mr. Menon reached Sukma this morning alongwith both the mediators Dr. B.D. Sharma and Prof. Hargopal. He had been released by the Maoists last evening in Tadmetla after 13 days of captivity.