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Odisha govt offers to swap 27 Maoist prisoners for kidnapped MLA, Italian
BHUBANESWAR: A day before the April 5 deadline set by the Maoists for fulfillment of their demands in exchange for the release of Biju Janata Dal MLA Jhina Hikaka, the Naveen Patnaik government blinked on Wednesday and agreed to release 27 people in various Odisha jails in exchange for Hikaka as well as Italian Bosusco Paolo. The Maoists are yet to respond.
"Considering the safety of Jhina Hikaka, the young MLA of Laxmipur, it has been decided by the state government to facilitate the release of 15 members of the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha and eight Left-wing extremists in Koraput and Malkangiri jails," chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in the assembly, shortly after a crucial cabinet meeting.
The state's offer to free eight Maoists came hours after the government resumed talks with Maoist-named mediators B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty for freeing Paolo, who was kidnapped along with his compatriot Claudio Colangelo on March 14. While Colangelo was released on March 25, Paolo has been held captive by the insurgents for nearly three weeks.
Eight Maoists and 15 activists of the Sangha are being offered for a swap for Hikaka's freedom while four Maoists will be freed for the safe passage of Paolo. The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) had demanded the release of all "political prisoners" (around 70) in jails of Koraput and Malkangiri districts for Hikaka's release.
Names of prisoners to be swapped today
The state government will name on Thursday those who would be released in return for Maoists freeing Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco and MLA Jhina Hikaka, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said on Wednesday. The Maoists had set April 5 as the deadline for the government to fulfill their demands in Hikaka's case and warned that the government would be responsible for the consequences.
On the Italian, Paolo, Naveen said it was decided to facilitate the release of four Maoists from the list given by the mediators.
"The names of all these people for the release of both the MLA and the Italian national shall be announced tomorrow (Thursday)," Naveen said, again appealing to the Maoists to release Hikaka and Paolo.
One of the mediators, Dandapani Mohanty, said, "Unless we get anything in writing from the government, we have nothing to say."
Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, through the two mediators, demanded the release of seven rebels, Gananath Patra (CMAS advisor), Subhashree Das (Panda's wife), Kamalkanta Sethy, Sujatha, Siku Nachika (CMAS president Nachika Linga's relative), Arati Majhi and Sudarshan Mandal.
Sources said the government, after engaging in negotiations with Maoists through the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha, decided to release 15 activists of the Sangha and eight Maoists
Odisha govt offers to swap 27 Maoist prisoners for kidnapped MLA, Italian - The Times of India
BHUBANESWAR: A day before the April 5 deadline set by the Maoists for fulfillment of their demands in exchange for the release of Biju Janata Dal MLA Jhina Hikaka, the Naveen Patnaik government blinked on Wednesday and agreed to release 27 people in various Odisha jails in exchange for Hikaka as well as Italian Bosusco Paolo. The Maoists are yet to respond.
"Considering the safety of Jhina Hikaka, the young MLA of Laxmipur, it has been decided by the state government to facilitate the release of 15 members of the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha and eight Left-wing extremists in Koraput and Malkangiri jails," chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in the assembly, shortly after a crucial cabinet meeting.
The state's offer to free eight Maoists came hours after the government resumed talks with Maoist-named mediators B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty for freeing Paolo, who was kidnapped along with his compatriot Claudio Colangelo on March 14. While Colangelo was released on March 25, Paolo has been held captive by the insurgents for nearly three weeks.
Eight Maoists and 15 activists of the Sangha are being offered for a swap for Hikaka's freedom while four Maoists will be freed for the safe passage of Paolo. The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) had demanded the release of all "political prisoners" (around 70) in jails of Koraput and Malkangiri districts for Hikaka's release.
Names of prisoners to be swapped today
The state government will name on Thursday those who would be released in return for Maoists freeing Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco and MLA Jhina Hikaka, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said on Wednesday. The Maoists had set April 5 as the deadline for the government to fulfill their demands in Hikaka's case and warned that the government would be responsible for the consequences.
On the Italian, Paolo, Naveen said it was decided to facilitate the release of four Maoists from the list given by the mediators.
"The names of all these people for the release of both the MLA and the Italian national shall be announced tomorrow (Thursday)," Naveen said, again appealing to the Maoists to release Hikaka and Paolo.
One of the mediators, Dandapani Mohanty, said, "Unless we get anything in writing from the government, we have nothing to say."
Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, through the two mediators, demanded the release of seven rebels, Gananath Patra (CMAS advisor), Subhashree Das (Panda's wife), Kamalkanta Sethy, Sujatha, Siku Nachika (CMAS president Nachika Linga's relative), Arati Majhi and Sudarshan Mandal.
Sources said the government, after engaging in negotiations with Maoists through the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha, decided to release 15 activists of the Sangha and eight Maoists
Odisha govt offers to swap 27 Maoist prisoners for kidnapped MLA, Italian - The Times of India