Bhubaneswar: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Friday said his government needed more time to examine the demands of the Maoists for the release of an Italian and a ruling party legislator.
Patnaik said his government has received the recent demands of the rebels through their two negotiators for the release of Italian Bosusco Paolo, 54, who continues to be in the captivity of the rebels since March 14.
They have been however insisting the government fulfill their 13 demands for the release of the second Italian, including a ban on the visit of tourists to the tribal areas, halt to anti-Maoist operations and release of several prisoners.
Dandapani Mohanty one of the two Maoist-backed negotiators late Thursday said the rebels may release the second Italian if the government fulfils at least three of the demands.The demands are – release of about 20-25 people already declared innocent by courts but later booked on several false charges, implementation of court order to prosecute policemen responsible for custodial deaths and release tribals booked on false charges.
In the meanwhile, the state government has not made any progress on getting the release of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Jhina Hikaka who has been held hostage by another group of leftwing extremists in a hilly area of Koraput district since March 24.(IANS)
