Italian tour operator, tribal MLA still in captivity

BHUBANESWAR: Talks between the Odisha government and rebel mediators to facilitate the release of tribal BJD MLA and an Italian are likely to resume soon.

While Maoists set free 61-year-old Italian Claudio Colangelo, his compatriot Puri-based Italian tour operator Paolo Bosusco, 54 was still being held captive by the ultras who said his release would depend on Odisha government's seriousness towards their demands.

Colangelo's release came after talks between the Left-wing extremists and government mediators were suspended when the ruling BJD MLA from Laxmipur, Jhina Hikaka was abducted by over 50 Maoists in Koraput district.

The issue of Hikaka's abduction rocked the state assembly with opposition Congress members storming the well demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation.

They alleged that the MLA was abducted because of an agreement between the ruling BJP and a Maoist-backed outfit for zila parishad elections in Koraput.

The House was adjourned for over an hour following pandemonium over the issue.

Now the talks are likely to resume with the state government representatives for safe release of Bosusco, said Dandapani Mohanty, one of the rebel-nominated negotiators. The other Maoist negotiator is social activist and former bureaucrat, B D Sharma.

The state government would be represented by Home Secretary U N Behera, Panchayatiraj Secretary P K Jena and ST & SC development secretary S K Sarangi.

The 37-year-old legislator Hikaka's abduction rocked the state assembly with opposition Congress members storming the well demanding details about the episode. As the din continued, the house was adjourned for 30 minutes.