Maoists release Italian hostage, not BJD MLA yet: Reports

According to media reports, Italian hostage Bosusco Paolo, who has been in the captivity since 14 March, might have been released on Wednesday night by Maoists in Mohona village of Odisha.

However, there is no official confirmation of his release. Some reports also suggest that he might be released on Thursday.

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 .

A day after his wife Subhashree Das was acquitted by a court in a 2003 case, 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.

Bosusco, a 51-year-old tour operator was taken hostage by the Maoists on 14 March alongwith compatriot Claudio Colangelo. Colangelo was allowed to go due to ill-health, Bosusco continued to be held captive with the Maoists remaining firm on the charter of demands.