Odisha Hostage Crisis

• 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: 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...

• 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.

• As deadline nears for hostages release, Odisha govt scrambling to meet demands

  Even as the 96 hour deadline for the release of the Italian tourist, given to the Odisha government by Sabyasachi Panda gets closer, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik made another statement to the house clarifying that the Maoist chief was not correct in his accusations of the government efforts being a farce. "Yesterday Sabyasachi Panda...

• Odisha names prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages

  In exchange for an Italian tour guide and an MLA, the Odisha government has agreed to release 27 prisoners, including eight Naxals. The hostages are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. No date has been fixed yet for the release of the prisoners. Here are 10 big facts on this story:

• Will swapping prisoners for hostages make things worse for Odisha?

  In exchange for an Italian tour guide and an MLA, the Odisha government has agreed to release 27 prisoners, including eight Naxals. The hostages are being held by two rival factions of Naxals. Here are 10 big facts on this story:

• Odisha MLA abduction: Maoists give deadline to Govt

  With no headway in sight on the negotiations for the release of abducted MLA of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, Jhina Hikaka, the Maoists in Odisha are indulging in some tough talk.

• Italian hostage crisis: Full transcript of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's audio message

  For nearly three weeks Italian national Paolo Bosusco has been in captivity of Maoists in Odisha. Today, talks between the Maoist-appointed mediators and the state government on the demands made by the Maoists remained inconclusive. Earlier today, an audio tape was released with a message by Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda demanding a signed copy of...