New Delhi: At a time when Left-wing extremism is reasserting itself, the Chief Ministers will meet the top two of the UPA government. After a series of letters on a host of issues it is now time for some straight talk across the table with states accusing the Centre of overlooking federal dharma. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said, "This is another example of Centre's overreach." Setting the tone...
09:52 PM, Apr 15, 2012
Bhubaneswar: Thirty seven-year-old Naxal, Chhenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi had a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head when he was arrested by the Odisha police last year. Now his release could prove the key to secure the freedom of abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka. Ghasi is a dangerous man, charged in 44 cases. He was involved in the killing of 38 securitymen in an ambush in Malkangiri in June...
08:15 AM, Apr 14, 2012
Naxals have released Paulo Bosusco after a month in custody. The Odisha government has agreed to free 27 jailed cadres in exchange. ...
05:13 PM, Apr 12, 2012
New Delhi: Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco was released by the Maoists on Thursday, 29 days after he was abducted along with his countryman Claudio Colangelo by the Naxals in Odisha's Kandhamal district. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has congratulated Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the safe release of the Italian national, saying it enhances India's reputation as a safe destination. "I appreciate Naveen Patnaik's efforts," he said. Bosusco (54)...
11:18 AM, Apr 12, 2012
Bhubaneswar: A breakthrough seems to be in sight in the Odisha hostage crisis. Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda in his latest audio message has said that he will free abducted Italian Paolo Boscusco if the government honoured its agreement signed with the negotiators. In a new audio tape released by the Naxal leader, he claims that the Italian tourist himself wants the government to release one tribal woman before he is...
10:17 AM, Apr 11, 2012
Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha has come under attack with experts saying it must stop giving in to the demands of the Naxals. The hostage crisis continues, with Naxals pressing for the release of some hardcore rebels. Ajai Sahni of the Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management said, "I think it is very obvious that they have been giving in to the escalating demands. At some stage, I think...
07:41 AM, Apr 11, 2012
The Odisha Govt has said that it is facilitating the release of the 27 prisoners, demanded by two Maoist groups, within the legal framework. ...
10:16 PM, Apr 10, 2012
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is in a fix over how to diffuse the hostage crisis. The deadline set by Naxals for the state government to free 30 jailed cadres in exchange for BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka ends on Tuesday. The government had agreed to free over 27 jailed Naxals in return for the MLA and Italian tourist Paolo Boscusco who is being held captive by another Naxal faction in Kandhamal....
07:32 AM, Apr 10, 2012
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha police association on Monday threatened to boycott duty in Maoist-infested areas if the government releases hardcore Maoists. This comes after the Odisha government bowed down before the Maoists and announced that it would release 27 Maoists to in exchange for Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka and Italian national Paolo Bosusco. CNN-IBN had earlier reported that the security forces were unhappy over the decision of Odisha...
06:02 PM, Apr 09, 2012
Bhubaneswar: There is yet another glimmer of hope for the abducted Italian national Paolo Bosusco. The Naveen Patnaik government and negotiators reached an agreement late on Saturday night. The government has assured of the release of five Maoists who the mediators had named, and in return, the negotiators are calling for the release of the Italian tourist. This is the first time both sides have agreed to a solution. Italian...
10:52 AM, Apr 08, 2012
Bhubaneswar: The Maoists in Odisha, who have abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka, released a fresh audio tape on Saturday demanding the release of five more Naxals from jail, issuing a fresh deadline till April 10. The Maoists have now demanded the release of top cadre Chenda Bhushanam alias Ghasi, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. Ghasi, a dreaded Maoist, was arrested by...
06:06 PM, Apr 07, 2012
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday strongly refuted the claims of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda made by him in an audio tape, arguing that the Maoists had asked for the release of six Naxals, out of which the government was facilitating the release of five. Patnaik pressed for the immediate release of Italian hostage Paolo Basusco in return for the release of the Naxals. Panda had upped his...
01:56 PM, Apr 07, 2012
Bhubaneswar: From security forces to former policemen, nobody seems to agree that the decision by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to release Naxals to secure the return of the Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco is a good one. Swaranjit Sen, former DGP, Andhra Pradesh, said, "It's like history repeating itself without any lessons being learnt. Talks have only benefited the Maoists. This new deadline of 96 hours for releasing 7 Naxals...
07:14 AM, Apr 07, 2012
Release seven Maoists within 96 hours or the Italian hostage will be killed, says Sabyasachi Panda. ...
10:18 PM, Apr 06, 2012
Bhubaneswar: There seems to be no end to the hostage crisis in Odisha as Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda on Friday released a new audio tape, giving a fresh deadline to the state government for the release of Naxals. In the new audio tape, Panda has set a four-day deadline for the government to release seven Maoists. He has threatened to kill the Italian hostage, Paolo Bosusco, if the demand is...
09:57 PM, Apr 06, 2012
Bhubaneswar: Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda on Friday issued a fresh audio tape giving a 96-hour ultimatum to the Odisha government to release all the seven Naxals he had demanded. The Maoist leader has reiterated that he will kill Italian hostage Bosusco Paolo if the state government fails to meet the fresh deadline. The threat from Panda comes even as Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier agreed to fulfil the...
05:11 PM, Apr 06, 2012
New Delhi: The Centre is keenly observing the hostage situation in Odisha and is believed to be against any swap of prisoners with an abducted MLA and an Italian tour guide. The Home Ministry is not involved in any way with the negotiations between the Maoists and the Odisha government as the latter has not sought any help, but it is in regular touch with the state government. Ministry officials...
03:35 PM, Apr 06, 2012
Kandhamal: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced the names of the 27 Maoist leaders and supporters including Sabyasachi Panda's wife - to be released from prison in exchange for the two hostages. But there's no word on when and how, and indeed whether Naxals have agreed. Though one faction has extended the deadline to April 7. "We will initiate legal procedure to facilitate the release of these people...
06:17 AM, Apr 06, 2012
Catch the day's top stories on India at 9 with Rajdeep Sardesai. ...
11:50 PM, Apr 05, 2012
Bhubaneswar: Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte on Thursday thanked Odisha government for its efforts to resolve the hostage crisis. "I thank the chief minister for the support granted so far and liberation of Claudio Colangelo. I told him how this case of abduction of Paolo Bosusco is closely followed in Italy," Monteforte told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The ambassador said he also informed Patnaik about the...
11:37 PM, Apr 05, 2012
