Maoists Abduct Italians

• 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...

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Maoists abduct official, three workers

  Suspected Maoists have abducted a forest official and three workers in Bihar's Jamui district and threatened to kill them if a ransom of Rs.10 lakh was not paid, police said on Friday.

• Odisha hostage crisis: Talks inconclusive; Maoists issue ultimatum in audio tape

  With no headway in sight on the negotiations for the release of the abducted Italian national, the Maoists in Odisha are indulging in some tough talk. On Monday evening, top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda released an audio tape, warning of dire consequences if the state government did not pay heed to their demand for the release of political prison...

• 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 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: Does anyone care for Paolo Bosusco?

  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...

• 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...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoists release one of the two Italian nationals

  After spending 11 days in Maoist captivity, one of the two Italian nationals, Claudio Colangelo, who was taken hostage, has been released in Odisha's Kandhmal district. The other Italian national, Bosusco Paolo, is still being held hostage by the Maoists.