Maoists release Italian hostage

After 29 days in hostage Italian tour operator Paolo Bosusco has been released by the Maoists. Reports say he will be handed over the police very soon. External Affairs Min SM Krishna thanked Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik for his personal intervention in getting the Italian hostages released, according to ANI News. On Tuesday, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda in an audio message, said that Bosusco will be released through a “democratic process”. Panda had also said that he had received a copy of the joint statement signed by the Odisha government and the Maoist-appointed mediators, which was one of the preconditions for the release of the Italian national. [caption id=“attachment_273371” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“PTI”] [/caption] Hopes brightened for Italian tour operator Paolo Basusco’s release on Wednesday with Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda thanking the Naveen Patnaik government for keeping its promise. Meanwhile, the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists, which has kept Laxmipur MLA Hikaka captive since 23 March, on Wednesday released a three-page letter, reiterating that Hikaka won’t be released if the 30 people who are lodged in various jails are not released, reported The Indian Express . Two Italian nationals Paolo Boscusco and Claudia Colangelo were taken hostage by the Naxals on March 14 from Surada Police Station area which comes under the Ganjam District bordering Kandhamal. The 61-year-old Colangelo, who was not keeping well, was released on 25 March and was handed over to a group of three journalists near Kandhamal.