Kandhamal Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda threatened on Monday that Italian hostage Basusco Paolo might be killed if the Orissa government did not act swiftly on their demands, and alleged it was planning an offensive against them.
Earlier on Monday, home department officials said the government had agreed to release nearly 40 Maoist cadres, including Subhashree Panda, wife of top Naxal Sabyasachi Panda, now lodged in Gunupur jail.
The state government also said it was considering releasing some top Maoist cadres to get BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka freed. Mr. Hikaka, who represents Laxmipur in Koraput district, was kidnapped on March 24 night. The local media, quoting tribals in the Narayanpatna forest region where the MLA is believed to be captive, suggested he was seriously ill.
The reports claimed he was suffering from dehydration in the hot hilly terrain, and was getting saline drips in a jungle camp.
In a related development, Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh today said there was no ready solution to the country's Maoist problem and stressed on developing intelligence to effectively counter the threat posed by it and jehadi terrorists.
"We have a fight with the enemy (Maoists) who have faith in violence and we do not have a ready solution .... There are some people who talk about finding a solution through talks. But I think no there is nothing for holding talks," he said, inaugurating Indo-Tibet Border Police Force sector headquarter in Patna.
"The Maoists want to end the country's present democratic arrangement by force. At the same time they carry out propaganda that they are fighting for the poor and the tribals, which is nothing but a pretension.... Most of those killed by the Maoists were poor people and tribals and their fight is a war of attrition," he added.