Hostage crisis: Patnaik appeals to Maoists to continue talks

Under pressure from opposition to resign, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to Maoists to come forward and continue negotiations, even as the Italian hostage drama reached its twelfth day. [caption id=“attachment_255000” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Patnaik appealed to the maoists to come for negotiations: Reuters”]  [/caption]The latest appeal came even as the maoists abducted a BJD Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka on Saturday. Patnaik told assembled media that there had been no response from the maoists as yet with regard to either the abduction of the MLA or the Italian hostages. Hikaka was abducted by maoists when he was returning to his home at Laxmipur after attending a political meeting at Koraput at around 1 am on Saturday. More than 50 armed rebels stopped his vehicle near Toyaput where the road had been dug up and a truck blocked the road. While the personal security officer (PSO) and driver of the MLA were allowed to leave by the ultras who snatched away their mobile phones, Hikaka was taken away into the nearby forest, about 40 km from here at gunpoint. Patnaik was at a high level meeting with senior state officials and policemen in a bid to figure out what plan of action to take next. Meanwhile Patnaik has come under increasing pressure from the Congress Party MLAs in the state, who have said they are contemplating a no-confidence motion against the Odisha government for its “failure” in tackling the Maoist menace.