Odisha hostage crisis: Maoist death threat to MLA?

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In a major breakthrough in the Odisha hostage crisis, the Maoists on Sunday released Claudio Colangelo, one of the two Italian tourists they were holding hostage, to a group of journalists at an undisclosed location on the borders of Ganjam and Kandhamal districts, 300 km from the state capital.

The other kidnapped Italian, Basusco Paolo, is still in Maoist captivity, as is Biju Janata Dal MLA Jhina Hikaka, abducted early Saturday morning.

Sources in the Union home ministry said the Intelligence Bureau warned in a situation report on Sunday that the threat to the kidnapped MLA’s life is 'very high' and there is a 'strong possibility' he could be killed due to internal rivalry between two Maoist factions. The IB said a dialogue should be resumed with the Naxals immediately.

“We shared this information with the state government and urged them to immediately engage (the Maoists) in a dialogue,” a top MHA official said.

The Centre, which kept its forces on high alert but suspended armed action for now, told Odisha it would stand by the state government’s negotiations with Maoists, particularly on contentious issues.

Meanwhile, the released Italian Colangelo said, “It was frightening and a painful experience,” after his release.

Stating that he would like to visit the forests of Odisha again, he said, “But I will be scared to enter this jungle again”.

The Italian was reportedly unwell while in captivity, which may have prompted the Naxalites to release him. Colangelo is now eager to go back to Italy.

Top Naxal leader Sabyasachi Panda described the release as a 'goodwill gesture', saying the Maoists wanted to see what steps the state government has taken to fulfil their demands to “test its sincerity” before deciding on the other Italian.

'Victim of Maoist-govt tussle'

Colangelo said he became victim of an ongoing tussle between the ultras and the government.

While his compatriot Paolo Bosusco (54) was still held captive by the Maoists, 61-year-old Colangelo told reporters after his release: “We got entangled in the conflict between the government and Maoists. We had little knowledge about the Maoist problem in the region.”

He said he had spoken to his wife and his entire family heaved a sigh of relief over his release. The Italian tourist denied reports that they were taking photographs of the tribals when the Maoists captured them.

He said the other Italian, 54-year-old Paolo Bosusco, was with him in a Maoist camp. “We have to pray for him and see that he too returns safely,” he said.