Govt talks to Naxal negotiators on hostage crisis

In a bid to hasten the process of release of two Italian tourists abducted by the Naxals, the state government on Thursday initiated dialogue with two interlocutors chosen by the Red rebels- Dandapani Mohanty and B D Sharma.

On the state government's behalf, three top officials- U N Behera, principal secretary (home), P K Jena, secretary (panchayati raj) and Santosh Sarangi, secretary (tribal affairs) had a prolonged discussion with the Naxal negotiators that lasted for over one and a half hour.

"The abductors are ready to set free at least one of the two Italian nationals if the state government agrees to two conditions. First, the state government needs to initiate stern action against police officials responsible for killings of four Naxal leaders in encounter. Secondly, several innocent people who were released from jail have been imprisoned again on fake charges. The rebels have sought immediate release of these people”, Mohanty told the media after the talks.

"The government gave us a patient hearing. They have taken note of our demands. The second round of negotiations will be held on Friday”, said Sharma, the other negotiator.

State government officials refused to elaborate on the discussions held with the negotiators.

"The discussions with the Naxal negotiators has started”, said the home secretary, refusing to divulge the details.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved a resolution in the assembly on the sensitive issue of abduction of Italian tourists following persistent demand from the Opposition.

"The house expresses its deep concern on the issue of the abduction of the two Italian nationals by the Maoists. The house unanimously appeals for the safe release of both the Italian nationals immediately. This house shares and sympathizes with the agony and anxiety of the family members of the two Italian tourists”, Patnaik said.

The kidnapping of the two Italian tourists has snowballed into a major issue with the government facing heat both within and outside the state assembly.

It may be noted that four persons, including two foreigners and two Oriya tourists from Puri were taken hostage by the outlawed left-wing ultras near Daringibadi on March 14. While two of the Oriya persons were released by the rebels on last Saturday night, the Maoists had set some conditions of fulfillment of their 13-point charter of demands, including halting the anti-Maoist operations, to free the foreigners.