Maoists may release one of the abducted Italians today

The Italian hostage crisis in Odisha may come to an end soon with the Maoists hinting that they may release one of the hostage abducted. CNN-IBN reported that Claudio Colangelo who is reportedly ill and might be handed over to a select group of journalists by Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda and set free. [caption id=“attachment_251996” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Colangelo (left) could be released by the Maoists today. PTI”]  [/caption] Paolo Bosusco, who ran a tour operations business in Odisha forests is unlikely to be freed anytime soon. One of the appointed mediators BD Sharma will be in Bhubaneswar on Thursday and is likely to begin talks with the Maoists, according to CNN-IBN. On Wednesday, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda claimed that one Italian hostage would be freed if even three or four of their demands were accepted. In all, there are 13 demands that have been made. Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hit out at the Centre for not helping the state in the case. He said that the central government did not do anything to end the hostage crisis. Two Italians - Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo - were abducted while trekking in Kandhamal district on  14 March. A driver and cook who were accompanying them and their vehicle were released by the Maoists subsequently. A report from Puri said that the driver, Kartik Parida, and cook, Santosh, were interrogated by the police.