Naxals rule out immediate release of Italian national

Not satisfied with the state government's assurance on release of 27 jailed persons belonging to the CPI (Maoists) and the banned Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, the red rebels have ruled out immediate release of the abducted Italian national Paolo Bosusco.

Top Naxal leader and secretary of the Orissa state organizing committee of the CPI (Maoists) Sabyasachi Panda via a fresh audio tape said, “The abducted Italian national will not be released now. The state government has to give a written commitment on fulfillment of our demands. The government has announced the names of only three of the seven jailed persons whose release was demanded by us.”

Panda termed the abduction of the ruling party MLA Jhina Hikaka as a 'game plan of the state government' meant to throw the talks going on between the state officials and Naxal interlocutors into disarray.

Meanwhile, the state Chief Secretary B K Patnaik said the government would examine the audio CD of the Naxal leader given the gravity of the situation. Italian ambassador to India Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte on Friday held discussions with the Chief Secretary on the hostage crisis, a day after he called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“The discussions have been very fruitful. The state government is very committed to secure the release of Bosusco,” Monteforte told reporters.

In a related development, the talks between the state officials and Naxal mediators begun afresh on Friday after the Chief Minister said the government would facilitate the release of 27 prisoners.

On Thursday, he agreed to facilitate release of eight members of the CPI (Maoists) and 15 members of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh to secure freedom of the abducted MLA even as the outlawed ultras extended the deadline for release of the two hostages to April 7.

The eight members of CPI (Maoists) include Narsi Kendruka, Joruka Kendruka, Deba Majhi, Ganga Sodi, Bhima adiami, Mangaraj Darua, Murla Neelam Reddy and Setu Pangi.

Among the 15 members of CMAS whose release has been assured by the government include Rupuni Sirika, Miniaka sandal, Miniaka Jama, Saura Karasiya, Nachika Suba, Wadeka Diba, Rabi Tadingi, Dhana Hantal, Dora Hantal, Ramesh Nachika, Huluku Kesaba, Ina Tadingi, Rupana Huluka, Argu Sirika and Bijay Tadingi.