Maoist's wife urges husband not to harm Italian hostage

The wife of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, whose outfit claimed to have abducted Italian national Paolo Basusco, on Tuesday appealed to the ultras not to harm the hostage.

"I appeal to the Maoists not to harm the hostage," Subhasree Das alias Mili Panda told reporters while being produced at a court in Rayagada district.

Subhasree was acquitted by the high court in a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, but was rearrested for alleged involvement in Maoist activities.

Her appeal came a day after her husband, the secretary of Odisha State Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist), issued a threat on audio tape to the media.

"We may take the extreme step if the government launches an offensive to release the hostage," he had said. Panda's outfit had earlier claimed to have abducted two

Italian nationals Claudio Colangelo and Paolo Basusco on March 14. Though Coangelo was released on March 25 on humanitarian grounds, Basusco is still in Maoist captivity.

The outfit has demanded immediate release of seven persons, including Sabyasachi's wife in jail at Gunupur.

Asking the state government to resolve the hostage crisis politically, Subhasree also appealed to the abductors of Biju Janata Dal MLA Jhina Hikaka to release him.

Hikaka was taken hostage by the Srikakulam-Koraput Division of the Andhra-Odisha Special Border Committee of the CPI(Maoist) on the night of March 23.

"Please do not harm the MLA. He hails from a tribal family and works for the welfare of the tribal people," Subhasree told reporters at the Gunupur court premises.

Like Maoists, Hikaka has also been working for tribals, she said.