Maoists release the second Italian Tourist Paolo Bosusco

Maoists release the second Italian Tourist Paolo Bosusco 12/04/2012

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,BUREAU CHIEF,THESE DAYS,ODISHA

ODISHA NEWS/BHUBANESWAR:

Maoists have finally released Italian tour operator Paolo Bosusco after keeping him hostage for nearly a month, sources said.

Bosusco was abducted with another Italian, Claudio Colangelo, from a forested area of Kandhamal district on March 14.

It was the first time that the rebels had targeted foreigners. While the rebels released Colangelo on March 25 as a “goodwill gesture” they had kept Bosusco in captivity demanding the State Government to fulfill their 13 demands, including the release of seven persons from jail.

Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, in an audio message, on Wednesday had said that Paolo will be released through a “democratic process”. Panda had also said that he had received a copy of the joint statement signed by the State Government and the Maoist-appointed mediators, which was one of the preconditions for the release of the Italian national.

“We had asked for release of seven people. The Government has agreed to facilitate release of five. We welcome the steps taken by the government,” Panda said.

Meanwhile, the fate of Biju Janata Dal legislator Jhina Hikaka who has been in the captivity of another group of rebels since March 24 remains uncertain as the rebels refused to release him unless their demands to free 30 prisoners from jail were met.

After keeping an uncomfortable silence for quite a while the abductors of Hikaka issued a fresh threat on Wednesday.

“If the government resorts to conspiracy, we would decide the fate of Hikaka in a people’s court,” Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) spokesperson Jagabandhu said in a letter on Wednesday.