Odisha hostage crisis: Talks on between mediators, govt

Talks have begun for the safe release of two Italian nationals abducted by Maoists in Odisha and the state government is making all efforts to get the hostages released.

The Odisha government on Thursday evening began talks with two of the Maoist nominated mediators, Dandapani Mohanty and BD Sharma, for the safe release of two Italian nationals abducted by the ultras.

Mohanty and Sharma met Home Secretary U N Behera, Panchayati Raj Secretary Pradeep Jena, and Scheduled Tribe Development Secretary Santosh Sarangi from the state government's side on Thursday evening to decide on the future course of action.

Mohanty, one of the interlocutors, after holding the first round of talks with state government officials, said, "The central government has supplied some helicopters and the helicopter is moving through the Kandhamal district and other parts. When the discussion process is on, these type of activities should not be done."

"I appeal to the Maoist parties, Orissa state committee, also I appeal to the Andhra Orissa border committee and also I appeal to the Mangpur division committee, in the capacity given by the Maoist party Orissa state organising committee, I appeal to entire Maoist committees working under Orissa jurisdiction  that they should not indulge in any violence and provocative activities. Try to understand the two hostages, they are our country's guests," he added.

When asked whether the Maoists have agreed to release one hostage if the state government accepted two demands of the ultras, Mohanty said that Maoists continue to hold custody of both the tourists, who currently are hale and hearty.

"Perhaps this is propaganda. The government has till now not considered any demand and Maoists have also not released any one.  The two persons are in Maoist custody and their health condition is very nice. We have discussed with government representatives and our position (stand) has been submitted very humbly before government representatives. They will discuss all this with the government and again negotiations will be started," he said.

Another interlocutor representing the Maoists, B D Sharma, said, "There is total understanding between us and the government on the issue that tribals can not be treated as  idols or something like that for recreation, that is the first basic issue on which we had started".

Sharma, a retired bureaucrat, said the 13 points put forward by the Maoists had been reviewed.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also appealed for safe and early release of the two hostages.

"The negotiators from the CPI- Maoists side have informed us that the two hostages are unharmed and in good health. I repeat our plea to the CPI Maoists to release the two Italian hostages immediately," he said.

Bosusco Paolo, 54 and Claudio Colangelo, 61, were taken hostage on March 14 aalegedly because they were taking objectionable photographs of tribal women in Kandhamal-Ganjam border area of Orissa.

It is reported that the Maoists want the state government to stop all combing operations and initiate a dialogue with them.

The Maoists have urged the state government to act on the 13-point charter of demands, which includes the release of political prisoners and the end of Operation Green Hunt.