NEW DELHI: The kidnap drama in Eastern India dragged into the second week, as Maoist rebels continued to keep a local legislator and an Italian tourist hostage, demanding an immediate halt to the police operations against the rebels in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. The Maoists have demanded that the media should play mediator for the release of Orissa's ruling legislator Jhina Hikaka, who was kidnapped on March 24. In a separate incident Italian tourist Paolo Bosusco, along with his fellow national and friend Claudio Colangelo had been kidnapped on March 14. Colangelo was however released by the Maoists rebels last week. The hostage drama is being played out to the country through clandestine media interviews by the abductors, who belong to two wings of the Communist Party of India (CPI) Maoists wing and through letters written to the Orissa government by the abducted 37-year-old MLA. According to reports, Hikaka in his two handwritten notes to Orissa chief minister Navin Patnaik has said that he is safe. But the legislator has also conveyed the demand of his kidnappers, who seek an immediate halt of all anti-Maoists operations by the Orissa government, especially the ‘Operation Green Hunt', referring to the pan Indian offensive against the rebels. The rebels have also asked for the release of 50 odd Maoists who have been imprisoned. “I have received a communication from the Maoists regarding the young MLA. It is being looked at and examined. I again appeal to the Maoists of Koraput to release the young tribal MLA. He worked very hard for people,” said Patnaik, confirming the receipt of the letter. “I also appeal to the Maoists of Kandhamal to release second Italian hostage. I appeal the Maoist of both the district to release the hostages immediately and unharmed,” he further said, adding that the state government had appointed two senior officials to negotiate with the rebels. Maoists in a letter to the local media organizations in Orissa, have also asked the media to mediate with the government and facilitate their demands. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/lJCqk Tags: featured, India, Kidnapping, Orissa Section: Latest News, South Asia
