Italians In Odisha

• Italian dancer and Padma Shri booked for beating student

  Italy-born Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi has been booked by the police for allegedly beating a student at her dance school in Bhubaneswar.

• Was manhandled on Lord Jagannath's chariot: Padma Shri dancer

  "I never expected this from priests," Italy-born Odishi danseuse Ileana Citaristi told NDTV, still in shock a day after she was allegedly manhandled during the famous Lord Jagannath procession.

• Odisha to launch Sanctuary Tourism to beat abduction blues

  With the abduction of two Italians hitting tourism in the state, the Odisha government has decided to launch a special package of adventure cum pleasure trips to woo tourists.

• 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...

• 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.

• 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...

• Maoists free Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco

  After 29 days in hostage Paolo Bosusco, held hostage by the Odisha unit of the Maoist party has been released.

• 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...

• Centre wants to set guidelines to deal with hostage crises

  Faced with the hostage situation in Odisha, the Centre is planning to seek cooperation from all states in preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with any crisis arising out of kidnapping.

• 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.

• 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.