Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) - The Orissa government and the Maoist-nominated mediators resumed talks today to free an Italian national still in Maoist hands. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made a fresh appeal to the Naxals to release Paolo Bosusco. Two days ago, they let go his compatriot, Claudio Colangelo, who appears to have contracted malaria during his captivity.
Talks had been suspended on Saturday following the abduction of Jhina Hikaka, a Hindu nationalist Member of the Orissa Legislative Assembly, who allegedly broke the agreement whereby there would not be any further violence by Communist rebels.
Chief Minister Patnaik said that Colangelo was in good health.
He appealed to Maoist leaders to release the other Italian hostage as well as MLA Hikaka, who has an excellent record for "working hard for the welfare of tribals and the poor." (NC)