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Bhubaneswar: Maoists
who abducted two Italians five days ago Monday made further
demands, ignoring Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's appeals to free
the two.
India meanwhile assured Italian Foreign Minister Guilio Terzi that
all efforts were on to free Bosusco Paolo, 54, and Claudio
Colangelo, 61. The abduction became known only Saturday.
The Orissa Police said they had intensified their search for the
Italians, but there was no clue where they were being held.
Patnaik said his government was examining a pamphlet in which the
guerrillas had raised fresh demands, raising the total number of
demands to 13.
The pamphlet was issued in the name of Sunil, secretary of the
Odisha State Organising Committee of the Communist Party of
India-Maoist. "This pamphlet is being examined," Patnaik said in
the assembly.
"The Maoists have not yet nominated their representatives to
discuss the matter with the government. When such a communication
is received, further steps will be taken," he added.
He urged the rebels to release the hostages unharmed, adding that
his government was ready to talk to the abductors.
Police and other officials held a series of meetings Sunday and
Monday.
"We have so far not received any communication from them
(Maoists)," Home Secretary U.N. Behera told IANS.
Asked if search operations were on, Behera said: "I will not be
able to tell you that."
The government had earlier said the Italians were abducted
Saturday at the border of Ganjam and Kandhamal district.
Paolo and Colangelo had gone with two Indians, Santosh Moharana
and Kartika Parida, both residents of Puri, to Kandhamal district
March 12 on a four-day trekking trip.
On March 14 morning, six to seven people came with guns when they
were near a rivulet. The rebels forced the four to a nearby forest
after tying their hands and blindfolding them.
The Indians were released March 16.
Puri District Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahu said the
witnesses' statements were recorded and a case had been registered
against the abductors.
Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, in an audio message sent to media
Sunday, said the tourists were seized after they took
'objectionable' photographs of some tribal women near a rivulet.
He asked the government stop its anti-Maoist operations.
The Maoists want the government to fulfil a charter of 13 demands
including those it promised last year.
These include halting anti Maoist operations, scrapping accords
with MNCs for land transfer, compensation to families of Maoist
sympathisers killed in police custody and release of about 600
prisoners.
In the latest demands, they wanted tourists to be kept away from
tribal areas and those arrested for opposing industrial projects,
including Posco and Vedanta, to be released.
It is the first time foreigners have been abducted by Maoists in
Orissa.
Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts.
In New Delhi, visiting Italian foreign minister was told by his
Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna that India was equally concerned
about the seized Italians.
"India assures Italy that all efforts are being made to secure
release of Italians kidnapped in Odisha," external affairs
ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.
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