Odisha Hostage Crisis

As the hostage crisis involving an MLA in Odisha continues, Maoists today abducted a Collector in Sukma in Chhattisgarh. Two security guards accompanying him were killed in the incident.

The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre and the Odisha government on a petition seeking to restrain the release of jailed Maoists in exchange for captive Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jina Hikaka.

With the deadline set by the Maoists in Odisha holding BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage ending today, his fate still remained unknown despite the state government's decision to seriously consider withdrawal of prosecution in "suitable cases" involving jailed rebels if the ultras free the legislator.

The fate of the tribal MLA abducted by Maoists in Odisha continues to hang in the balance. The ultras have further extended the deadline to April 18 for the state government to release 29 prisoners in return for setting free ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA, Jhina Hikaka.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka's home in Laxmipur on Friday. The visit came 22 days after the MLA was kidnapped by Maoists.

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.

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...

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

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.

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,...

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...

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...

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...

Adding to the woes of the government, the police force of Odisha today threatened to boycott anti-Naxal operations if hardcore Maoists are freed by the state government in a bid to end the twin hostage crisis which escalated with the abductors setting new demands before their deadline expires on Tuesday.

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.

As the hostage crisis involving an MLA in Odisha continues, Maoists today abducted a Collector in Sukma in Chhattisgarh. Two security guards accompanying him were killed in the incident.

The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre and the Odisha government on a petition seeking to restrain the release of jailed Maoists in exchange for captive Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jina Hikaka.

With the deadline set by the Maoists in Odisha holding BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage ending today, his fate still remained unknown despite the state government's decision to seriously consider withdrawal of prosecution in "suitable cases" involving jailed rebels if the ultras free the legislator.

The fate of the tribal MLA abducted by Maoists in Odisha continues to hang in the balance. The ultras have further extended the deadline to April 18 for the state government to release 29 prisoners in return for setting free ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA, Jhina Hikaka.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka's home in Laxmipur on Friday. The visit came 22 days after the MLA was kidnapped by Maoists.

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.

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...

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

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.

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,...

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...

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...

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...

Adding to the woes of the government, the police force of Odisha today threatened to boycott anti-Naxal operations if hardcore Maoists are freed by the state government in a bid to end the twin hostage crisis which escalated with the abductors setting new demands before their deadline expires on Tuesday.

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.