In Chhattisgarh, efforts to secure the release of the abducted collector of Sukma district Alex Paul Menon have intensified. Negotiations between the mediators of the Government and the Maoists are continuing.Meanwhile, the Maoist mediators BD Sharma and Professor Hargopal left for Chintalnar to meet Maoist leaders in a chopper provided by the Government.After that meeting, they are slated to head back to the state capital Raipur to meet with government interlocutors Nirmala Buch and SK Mishra.After having two rounds of talks with the Government mediators, Maoists' mediators decided to visit the area from where the Collector was abducted by the Maoists. The exact purpose of their visit to the area is subject to speculation. The Maoists have demanded, among other things, the release of 17 of their comrades, now in jail; the release of jailed tribals who are allegdely implicated in forged cases and putting an end to the operation green hunt.Menon was abducted by the Maoists on April 21 from a remote village where he was attending the Gram Suraj Abhiyaan. It is a state government-run programme meant to promote greater coordination and connect between the villagers and administration. The Maoists also killed two of his security personnel when they resisted his abduction.