Odisha Hostage

• Odisha MLA abduction: Fresh demands by Maoists

  It has been a month since the abduction of Odisha's BJD Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jhina Hikaka. But there is still no sign of his release. Maoists have made fresh demand to release all the 70 jailed members of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS), instead of their earlier demand to release 29 prisoners, in exchange of Mr Hikaka. Sources ...

• Maoists make new demand to release abducted Odisha MLA

  Nearly a month after BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka was kidnapped by Maoists in Odisha, they have made it clear on Saturday that they would not free him until the state government takes proactive steps to release all members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) who are in jail now. Daya, a senior leader of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee ...

• Odisha MLA abduction: Court notices to Centre, state on Maoists' release

  The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre and the Odisha government on a petition seeking to restrain the release of jailed Maoists in exchange for captive Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jina Hikaka.

• Odisha MLA hostage crisis: Maoists extend deadline to April 18

  The fate of the tribal MLA abducted by Maoists in Odisha continues to hang in the balance. The ultras have further extended the deadline to April 18 for the state government to release 29 prisoners in return for setting free ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA, Jhina Hikaka.

• Naveen Patnaik meets abducted MLA's family

  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka's home in Laxmipur on Friday. The visit came 22 days after the MLA was kidnapped by Maoists.

• Happy being a free man, says Italian Paolo Bosusco after being released by Maoists

  After spending 29 days in captivity, Paolo Bosusco, the Italian national abducted by Maoists in Odisha, finally walked free today. Mr Bosusco was handed over by the Maoists to Dandapani Mohanty, one of the mediators appointed by them for negotiating with the state government for the Italian's release, and some journalists in the forests of the trib...

• Maoists free Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco

  After 29 days in hostage Paolo Bosusco, held hostage by the Odisha unit of the Maoist party has been released.

• Odisha hostage crisis: Will release Paolo Bosusco through a democratic process, says Sabyasachi Panda

  In a fresh audio message released today, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has said Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco, who has been in his captivity for close to a month, will be released through a "democratic process". Mr Panda also says that he has received a copy of the joint statement signed by the Odisha government and the Maoist-appointed mediators,...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Court acquits Maoist leader's wife; Govt talks tough

  Subhashri Das, also known as Mili Panda, wife of top Odisha Maoist Sabyasachi Panda has been acquitted by a fast track court in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district. The court has cleared her of all charges in a case that accused her of taking part in a Maoist armed attack on the police in Kutinguda jungle in Gudari block of Odisha's Rayagada dist...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoist leader's wife acquitted by court

  Subhashri Das, also known as Mili Panda, wife of top Odisha Maoist Sabyasachi Panda has been acquitted by a fast track court in Gunupur in Odisha's Rayagada district. The court has cleared her of all charges in a case that accused her of taking part in a Maoist armed attack on the police in Kutinguda jungle in Gudari block of Odisha's Rayagada dist...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Deadline ends today; govt talks tough

  With the deadline given by Maoists in Odisha for the release of two hostages, Italian national Paolo Bosusco and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka set to end today, the state government has toughened its stand. Last night, three senior officials including the state Home Secretary, who were involved in the negotiations to free the Italian hosta...

• Odisha hostage crisis: Police threaten boycott if hardcore Maoists freed

  Adding to the woes of the government, the police force of Odisha today threatened to boycott anti-Naxal operations if hardcore Maoists are freed by the state government in a bid to end the twin hostage crisis which escalated with the abductors setting new demands before their deadline expires on Tuesday.

• Centre wants to set guidelines to deal with hostage crises

  Faced with the hostage situation in Odisha, the Centre is planning to seek cooperation from all states in preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with any crisis arising out of kidnapping.

• Odisha hostage crisis: Maoists toughen stand, place fresh demands

  After hopes emerged of a breakthrough in the Odisha hostage crisis late last week, it now seems that the problem is far from over. The Maoists holding an Italian national hostage for nearly a month now have placed new conditions in front of the government for his release.

• Odisha hostage crisis: Govt gives in to Maoist demands for release of Italian national

  With the Maoists' 96-hour deadline drawing to a close, the Odisha government has finally given to the ultras' demand for the release of the abducted Italian national, Paolo Bosusco. With this, Mr Bosusco is expected to walk free soon after spending over three weeks in captivity.