Maoist negotiator declines to act as mediator to free Italian hostages

Bhubaneshwar, Mar 20 (ANI): Maoist interlocutor Biswapriya Kanungo has refused to mediate in the ongoing Italian hostage crisis in the state, after the Maoists named him as one of three negotiators to hold talks with the government.

Kanungo on Tuesday, refused to act as a mediator, alleging the government for violating the agreement last time he acted as a negotiator.

"I am not inclined to negotiate the matter on behalf of Maoists, only if the government and the Maoists, both the sides want me to negotiate, I can consider it and I would also like to give a clear message that during the time of kidnapping of R. Vineel Krishna (district collector) and the persons like Professor Hargopal and Dandapani Mohanty, who were negotiating the matter, after that they had continuously alleged that the government side is violating the agreement," said Kanungo.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, however, said the security forces had already ceased counter-insurgency operations and were ready to talk with the rebels.

The Maoists have on their part demanded the release of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda alias Suneel and central committee members lodged in the prisons of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

According to reports, the two Italians, Paolo Bosusco and Claudio Colangelo, and two other local tourists had left for Kandhamal on an adventure tourism trip on March 12.

They were returning to their base in Puri after travelling through interior areas of the district when they were abducted. (ANI)