Odisha Hostage Mediators

• 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: 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,...

• 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...

• Blog: Odisha's hostage crisis is in mediators' hands

  It's been two weeks of tedious discussion between the Odisha govt and the two mediators selected by the Maoists. But a 6 page statement announced by the Chief Minister on the 4th of April , a document which is with NDTV seems to indicate that the Govt has infact, addressed all the demands forwarded by the Maoists. The question is whether the Maoi...

• Italian hostage crisis: Full transcript of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's audio message

  For nearly three weeks Italian national Paolo Bosusco has been in captivity of Maoists in Odisha. Today, talks between the Maoist-appointed mediators and the state government on the demands made by the Maoists remained inconclusive. Earlier today, an audio tape was released with a message by Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda demanding a signed copy of...

• 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: 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: 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...

• 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.

• Talks begin, Maoists say Italians are in good health

  Talks to resolve hostage crisis in Odisha began on Thursday with a Maoist mediator saying that the two abducted Italians are in good health and that all 13 demands of the ultras came up for discussion.