The two Maoist interlocutors — B.D. Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty — on Thursday threatened to withdraw from the negotiation process if the state government did not respond to three of the 13 demands made by rebels for releasing the Italian hostage Basusco Paolo.
“We are already exhausted discussing with state government officials the 13 demands made by the rebels. We want the government to respond to at least three of the demands by Friday evening.” The first demand, according to negotiator Mr Mohanty, is to withdraw cases against 16 Maoist cadres. The are Arati Majhi, Susil Sai, Asutosh Soren, Ranjit Sana, Rabi Dula, Gananath Patro, Uka Nachika and two tribal boys (in jailed Berhampur jail), Sudarshan Mondal, Arap Majhi, Adam Majhi, Patra Majhi, Ramesh Naik, Jonesh Pradhan, Manmohan Pradhan, Somanath Pradhan and Barsu Mallick.
The second demand of the Maoists is to withdraw “fabricated cases” against Pradeep Mallick and Pratap Chinnara. The third demand is to withdraw cases against 14 persons who, after getting released by the courts, were rearrested and jailed. Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik said the state government was examining the demands and would shortly take a decision on them