Italian Hostage Released

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  Photos Of Bodies Of Bangladeshi Attackers Released Along With First Names

  Police were blocking all access to streets near the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's Gulshan, where heavily armed attackers, who all are from "good educational background", holed up overnight Friday, torturing and killing some of their captives including nine Italians, seven Japanese, three Bangladeshis and one Indian teenager.

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  Italian Hostage Release Raises Questions Over Ransom

  Italian politicians welcomed the liberation of two Italian aid volunteers held hostage in Syria but their release drew criticism over a possible ransom payment.

• Italian hostage held by Al-Qaeda freed after 14 months

  An Italian hostage kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in February last year in Southern Algeria was released on Tuesday and is in a hotel in Burkina Faso, officials said. "Maria Sandra Mariani is free. I have just informed her relatives. I join them in their great satisfaction and relief at this magnificent news," Foreign Minister Giulio...

• Odisha government may consider withdrawal of some cases if MLA Jhina Hikaka is released

  In what is being seen as a softening of its earlier stand, the Odisha government has said it will seriously consider withdrawal of charges against some of the 25 prisoners if the Maoists release the abducted MLA Jhina Hikaka by 5 pm on April 18. The state Panchayati Raj Secretary PK Jena who was one of the three negotiators on behalf of the state g...

• Happy being a free man, says Italian Paolo Bosusco after being released by Maoists

  After spending 29 days in captivity, Paolo Bosusco, the Italian national abducted by Maoists in Odisha, finally walked free today. Mr Bosusco was handed over by the Maoists to Dandapani Mohanty, one of the mediators appointed by them for negotiating with the state government for the Italian's release, and some journalists in the forests of the trib...

• Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco released by Maoists

  After being in captivity for nearly a month, Italian national Paolo Bosusco has been released by Maoists in Odisha today. Mr Bosusco, 51, was handed over by the Maoists to their mediator Dandapani Mohanty and some journalists in the forest of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district. On his arrival in the state capital, the Italian national said, "I am...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoists refuse to free MLA

  Maoists holding BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka on Wednesday refused to free him unless 30 rebels, including one accused of killing 55 policemen, were released, while another group which abducted Italian Paolo Bosusco said it was awaiting the agreement struck with the government.

• Odisha hostage crisis: Will release Paolo Bosusco through a democratic process, says Sabyasachi Panda

  In a fresh audio message released today, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has said Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco, who has been in his captivity for close to a month, will be released through a "democratic process". Mr Panda also says that he has received a copy of the joint statement signed by the Odisha government and the Maoist-appointed mediators,...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Court acquits Maoist leader's wife; Govt talks tough

  Subhashri Das, also known as Mili Panda, wife of top Odisha Maoist Sabyasachi Panda has been acquitted by a fast track court in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district. The court has cleared her of all charges in a case that accused her of taking part in a Maoist armed attack on the police in Kutinguda jungle in Gudari block of Odisha's Rayagada dist...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoist leader's wife acquitted by court

  Subhashri Das, also known as Mili Panda, wife of top Odisha Maoist Sabyasachi Panda has been acquitted by a fast track court in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district. The court has cleared her of all charges in a case that accused her of taking part in a Maoist armed attack on the police in Kutinguda jungle in Gudari block of Odisha's Rayagada dist...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Deadline ends today; govt talks tough

  With the deadline given by Maoists in Odisha for the release of two hostages, Italian national Paolo Bosusco and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka set to end today, the state government has toughened its stand. Last night, three senior officials including the state Home Secretary, who were involved in the negotiations to free the Italian hosta...

• Odisha twin hostage crisis: Maoists toughen stand

  The double hostage crisis in Odisha has taken a serious turn on Sunday with the two separate Maoist groups, who have abducted an Italian national and a ruling BJD MLA, toughening their stand over the release of the hostages.

• Odisha hostage crisis: Govt gives in to Maoist demands for release of Italian national

  With the Maoists' 96-hour deadline drawing to a close, the Odisha government has finally given to the ultras' demand for the release of the abducted Italian national, Paolo Bosusco. With this, Mr Bosusco is expected to walk free soon after spending over three weeks in captivity.

• As deadline nears for hostages release, Odisha govt scrambling to meet demands

  Even as the 96 hour deadline for the release of the Italian tourist, given to the Odisha government by Sabyasachi Panda gets closer, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik made another statement to the house clarifying that the Maoist chief was not correct in his accusations of the government efforts being a farce. "Yesterday Sabyasachi Panda...

• Maoists holding Italian threaten 'extreme' step

  Odisha Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has refused to release Paolo Bosusco, the Italian national taken hostage over three weeks ago and has instead issued a fresh ultimatum to the state government that his group could take 'extreme' steps if its demands are not met. In an audio message, Sabyasachi said that negotiations on with the government were...