Maoists upset with Odisha govt; suspend talks

Maoist mediators in the parleys for the release of Italian Paolo Bosusco on Wednesday night alleged that the Odisha government was buying time and suspended talks with a warning that it would be responsible if any harm was caused to the hostage.

"Talks have been suspended. There has been delay in resolving the issue as Odisha government is buying time instead of sincerely responding to the demands of the Maoists," mediators B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty told media persons in Bhubaneswar.

They said there was no agreement on any of the 13 demands given by the Maoists during talks with the state government representatives led by Home Secretary U N Behera and under the circumstances it was pointless to continue the negotiations.

They also warned the state government would be responsible if any harm is caused to the 54-year-old Italian Puri-based tour operator who is in captivity since March 14.

Another Italian Claudio Colangelo, 61, was freed on Sunday by the rebels.

Sharma and Mohanty termed as "unfortunate" Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's claim that some additional demands had been made and maintained there are only 13 demands, which had earlier been placed before the government.

Patnaik had earlier said the state government had received some additional demands from the mediators, which were being examined.

Without elaborating on the nature of the fresh demands, the chief minister said as their examination might take a day or more, the negotiation between the three government negotiators and two Maoist mediators might be delayed for a brief period.

The government was also waiting for the kidnappers of 37-year-old tribal BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka to name mediators, although the ultras have said they were against it.

A senior official said "we hope the Maoists will announce the names of their negotiators soon so that discussion for Hikaka's release can start."

The Laxmipur MLA was kidnapped from Koraput district on March 24 when he was returning home.

The chief minister had on Tuesday night asked the ultras to join the negotiations to resolve the issue.

Though the ultras have placed a list of demands for the release of the BJD MLA, the issues were complex which would be difficult to resolve without a detailed discussion.

The Odisha government has said some Maoist demands like halt to the combing operation and release of jailed ultras had been conceded.