The latest development has put the Naveen Patnaik government in a fix. Italy has expressed its concern over the issue. "The Italian government... we are very concerned about the two Italians who were kidnapped and it remains the goal of the government to release them in a safe manner as soon as possible," said the Italian consul to India.
Meanwhile, the Naxal faction that abducted the Italians has demanded action on its 13-point demand list. However, the state government has not accepted it yet.
The two negotiators for the Maoists, BD Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty, on Saturday suspended all talks between the Odisha government and the Naxals citing "atrocities by both parties".
Addressing a press conference, the negotiators appealed to the Maoists to free all the three hostages, two Italian nationals and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka, on humanitarian grounds.
It must be noted that the third round of talks between the Maoists and the negotiators was slated to be held on Saturday afternoon, after two rounds of negotiations had failed in the past.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to send two ministers for negotiating and securing Hikaka's release.
The chief minister also said that the negotiations with regard to two Italian hostages, who were abducted by the Maoists 11 days ago, would continue with Naxal interlocutors for their release.
The statement from Patnaik came after he chaired a high level meeting with all top police and government officials in the state. Meanwhile, there was uproar in the Odisha Assembly, which was later adjourned, over both the cases of abduction by the Maoists.
Patnaik also said that he had talked to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over the issue.
BJD MLA Jay Panda has, meanwhile, termed the incidents as unfortunate and has assured that the government will take all actions to solve the issues.
He said, "The state government is taking it very seriously and all actions will be taken to solve these issues. From our side, we are ready to negotiate."
According to sources in the Union Home Ministry, the abduction of the MLA has come two days after the Minister of Home Affairs issued general alert to the Odisha government that Maoists might resort to tactical counter offensive and target politicians.
Sources in the state intelligence have said that the MLA was abducted by the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal committee, a Maoist group headed by Ramakrishnan and led by Daya in Koraput district.
The group is opposed to Sabyasachi Panda, who leads Maoists in Kandhamal and has abducted the two Italian tourists.
The Koraput police have, meanwhile, confirmed that the MLA's convoy was attacked by armed men while on his way home. They, however, did not confirm if the abductors were Maoists.
"There is no confirmation on who were the people who have taken away the MLA and what do they want. We only know that some people took him away from near Koraput. We do not know who the people were and what their demands are," said Koraput Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar.
However, the MLA's driver has said that the abductors identified themselves as Maoists.
In posters put up by the Maoists after the MLA was abducted, they have demanded an end to 'Operation Green Hunt'.
Meanwhile, in the last nine days of the Italian hostage crisis in the state, the Maoists have reportedly killed two policemen in a blast in Koraput district and shot dead a sub inspector in Malkangiri district, despite Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda announcing a ceasefire.
In response, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had sent a tough message.
"For a peaceful atmosphere to facilitate negotiations, the Maoists should desist from continuous violence," Patnaik had said.
Posted in: Crime
0 comments:
Post a Comment