Two Italians abducted in Odisha, claim Maoists
Sunday March 18, 2012 11:11:49 AM,
IANS
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Bhubaneswar: Maoists Sunday claimed to have
abducted two Italian tourists in Odisha, a local television
channel report said. Police are verifying if the incident is true.
The Maoists, in an audio message sent to a local reporter in the
wee hours of Sunday, said the tourists were kidnapped at the
border of Ganjam and communally sensitive Kandhamal district.
A Maoist calling himself Sabyasachi Panda said, "We have
imprisoned two Italian tourists." He said the tourists would be
released only after the government stopped anti-rebel operations
and initiated dialogue with them.
"If the government wants to see them free, it should halt combing
operations. We also want the government to fulfil a charter of 13
demands," the rebel leader said without elaborating the details.
District collector Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, however, said the local
administration or police have not received any such information.
Foreigners travelling to the district are supposed to inform
police about their visit. However in this case there is no
information with police, Patil told IANS.
Acccording to a local television channel report, both the tourists
were men and were picked up by the rebels while roaming inside the
forest taking photographs of some tribal women.
If the incident turns out to be true, then it will be the first
case of abduction of a foreigner by the rebels in the state.
Maoists are active in more then half of the state's 30 districts
and the district of Kandhamal is considered as their strong hold.
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