This morning, and a day after Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon was set free, the 32-year-old IAS officer returned to his Sukma home, about 450 km from the state capital, this morning to an emotional welcome from his pregnant wife Asha and other family members.

Menon spent the night at CRPF base camp at Chintalnar before reaching Sukma by helicopter and was brought home under tight security. "There is no secret deal or any understanding to facilitate the release of Alex Paul Menon," Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh told reporters when asked whether there was any understanding between the state government and the rebels to bring to an end the 12-day hostage crisis.

At a press conference in Sukma, the two Maoists' mediators--B D Sharma and Prof Hargopal--who facilitated the  release of Menon denied any secret deal for the freedom of the Collector.

S K Mishra, one of the two Government mediators, also categorically said there was no "secret deal" or any "quid pro quo" between the two sides. "Everything is in public domain," he said referring to the agreement reached at between the mediators of the state government and the Maoists that paved the way for the release of the official. 

Chief Minister Singh said the three-member committee, which also included the Chief Secretary and the DGP, had a meeting last night within one hour as agreed as part of the agreement. He said the committee will examine the issue of delay in cases of under-trials lodged in different jails in Chhattisgarh.

Asked about the bail plea filed by jailed woman Naxal Meena Chaudhary, who was among those whose release was demanded by the rebels for freeing Menon, Singh asserted that no assurance has been given other than the agreement reached with Maoists.