Italian Kidnapped By Maoists

• Odisha MLA kidnapping: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Koraput for high-level meet

  Even as Maoists in Odisha freed Italian national Paolo Bosusco after keeping him captive for nearly a month yesterday, the hostage crisis is still far from over with abducted tribal MLA Jhina Hikaka continuing to be held captive by another faction of the Maoists.

• 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: 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: Maoists toughen stand, place fresh demands

  After hopes emerged of a breakthrough in the Odisha hostage crisis late last week, it now seems that the problem is far from over. The Maoists holding an Italian national hostage for nearly a month now have placed new conditions in front of the government for his release.

• Talks on to resolve Odisha hostage crisis

  Talks have begun at the State Guest House in Bhubaneshwar to end hostage crisis in Odisha, where an Italian national and an MLA are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. Three government officials and two Maoist representatives are in talks to strike a deal in exchange for the freedom of the captives.

• Odisha to release Maoist prisoners in attempt to rescue Italian national, MLA

  The Government of Odisha has decided to release 27 prisoners, eight of who are Maoists. This was a pre-condition for the release of Italian national, Bosusco Paolo, who has been kept hostage by the Maoists in the state since March 14 and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka.

• Odisha to release Maoist prisoners in attempt to rescue Italian national, MLA

  The Government of Odisha has decided to release 23 prisoners, eight of who are Maoists. This was a pre-condition for the release of Italian national, Bosusco Paolo, who has been kept hostage by the Maoists in the state since March 14 and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka.

• Italian hostage crisis: Waiting for Paolo!

  The fate of Italian national Paolo Bosusco, abducted by Maoists on March 14 remained uncertain even 24 hours after fervent appeals were made by the two mediators in Bhubaneswar. On Saturday, Dr BD Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty, the two mediators nominated by Maoists to hold talks with the Odisha government for the safe release of Mr Bosusco announce...

• Odisha: Talks end, hopes begin for release of kidnapped Italian

  Talks for the release of the Italian national have come to an end with the two mediators BD Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty appealing to the Maoists to release the Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco. The mediators have expressed hope that the Odisha government will consider the 13-point demand made by the Maoists expeditiously.

• Odisha hostage speaks to journalists on walkie-talkie

  Paolo Bosusco, the 51-year-old Italian national who was abducted along with his friend Claudio Colangelo by the Maoists near the Kandhamal-Ganjam border in Odisha on 14 March is likely to remain in captivity for a few more days. Claudio was set free on 25 March and has flown back home but Paolo's fate depends on how and when the mediators appointed...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoist-backed mediators serve ultimatum

  Maoist-backed mediators on Thursday threatened to withdraw from negotiations for the release of an Italian tourist if the Odisha government did not concede three demands of the Maoists by Friday evening.

• Odisha hostage crisis: No sign of breakthrough, rebel mediators seek Chief Minister's intervention

  There is no sign of a breakthrough yet in the hostage crisis in Odisha after only one Italian hostage was released on Sunday. Talks between the state government and the mediators for the Maoists lasted barely 45 minutes on Tuesday evening. The mediators, who wanted to complete the negotiations agreed to wait till today afternoon to hear the final v...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoists want media to mediate

  Even as one Italian national was released by the Maoists in Odisha, hectic negotiations are on to ensure safe release of the second Italian national and a ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA still held captive.

• Abducted Odisha MLA writes to Naveen Patnaik

  A day after the Italian tourist held hostage by Maoists in Odisha was released, a handwritten note in Odia, from the abducted MLA, Jhinn Hikaka addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been received by the state government. In his letter Mr Hikaka says he is safe but has asked that for his release, all anti-Maoist combing and intelligence op...