Bhubaneshwar:
With no headway in sight on the negotiations for the release of the abducted Italian national, the Maoists in Odisha are indulging in some tough talk. On Monday evening, top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda released an audio tape, warning of dire consequences if the state government did not pay heed to their demand for the release of political prisoners.
"The state government has been adopting dilatory tactics towards the demands put forth by us for the release of the Italian national. Also they have been using some of the surrendered members of our party to spy on us and also trying to turn the heat on us by planning counter-measures. If such activities do finally spell danger for the Italian hostage it's going to be the state government which will be held responsible," Mr Panda said in the audio message. The ultras have further said that they will hand over the hostage, Paolo Bosusco, only to people released from jail after they reach their camp with a signed copy of the deal between mediators and the state government with regard to their 13-point charter of demands. These conditions form the basis of the Maoists agreeing to release Mr Bosusco. (
Read full transcript of the audio message)
The warning, which was reported by the media, immediately forced senior officials of the state government to go into a huddle. They lost no time in inviting the two Maoist-nominated mediators - Dandapani Mohanty and Dr BD Sharma - to resume discussions on the demands of the ultras. The talks, however, remained inconclusive and both sides agreed to resume negotiations on Wednesday.
51-year-old Bosusco has been under the custody of the Maoists since March 14 after he, alongwith Italian tourist Claudio Colangelo, was kidnapped while trekking in the Kandhamal district. While Mr Colangelo was freed on March 25, Mr Bosusco continues to be held hostage. It hasn't helped matters with the state government having sought more time to decide on the demands placed by Maoists for releasing him. Prominent among the ultras' 13-point demand is the release of seven political prisoners which mediators, representing them, have urged the government to seriously consider.
The government though has sought more time to decide on these demands, thus leaving Mr Bosusco's fate hanging in the balance. However, sources close to Maoists have insisted that the tour operator from Puri is safe and sound and that there is no reason to apprehend any danger to his life.
Mr Mohanty and Mr Sharma had, on Saturday, made fervent appeals to the Maoists for the safe release of Mr Bosusco. The duo had also appealed to the Maoists to release the 'misguided Italian engaged in the business of tourism' on humanitarian considerations'. But strangely, there was no word from the three senior officials of the state government who negotiated with the mediators.
Sources had told NDTV that the mediators were told that the government was willing to let off one or two people from jail. But this too is not on record, something that may not help Mr Bosusco's cause. For, at the end of the negotiations stretched over 11 days, the Maoists are not sure what they have achieved in the whole process and therefore see no pressing reasons to set Mr Bosusco free. Sources also added that the Maoists were particularly upset with the state government's handling of the situation. They are surprised that the negotiations did not involve a single person representing the political leadership of the state. "Maoists will consider the question of releasing Mr Bosusco only after the state government issues a press release or public statement about the official stand in regard to their 13 demands and specific names of people who would be allowed to walk out of prison on bail", the source had revealed to NDTV.