Bhubaneswar:
The fate of Italian national Paolo Bosusco, abducted by Maoists on March 14 remained uncertain even 24 hours after fervent appeals were made by the two mediators in Bhubaneswar. On Saturday, Dr BD Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty, the two mediators nominated by Maoists to hold talks with the Odisha government for the safe release of Mr Bosusco announced that the negotiation process had come to a halt because the Odisha government sought more time to consider the Maoist's 13 demands.
The mediators 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.
Although there were 13 demands from the Maoists for the release of Mr Bosusco, the key demands related to the release of several political and 'innocent' prisoners. Sources say the mediators have been 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 10 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 close to the Maoists have told NDTV that the Maoists are quite upset over 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 revealed to NDTV.
The same source also said that Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda is expected to release an audio message to the media on Monday in which he is likely to spell out his terms and conditions over the issue of Mr Bosusco's release .
If the information is reliable, Mr Bosusco's release is not going to be as easy as one had anticipated.