In a fresh demand, Maoists holding Chhattisgarh's Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon hostage have asked for 17 of their jailed associates to be released, sources said after the mediators appointed by the government and the guerrillas met here Friday.

The second round of talks between the two mediators named by Maoists and two former bureaucrats appointed by the Chhattisgarh government began at 9 a.m. here Friday. The first round of talks was held Thursday.