As Italy steps up efforts for the release of two of its nationals abducted by Maoists in Odisha.
Even as Italy stepped up efforts for the release of two of its nationals - Bosusco Paolo (55) and Claudio Kelanjelo (60) - abducted by the CPI (Maoist) in Kandhamal, the Centre indicated it wants to play the waiting game instead of bowing to their ‘absurd’ demands.
Sources in both the Centre and the state government denied issuing any orders to stop security forces’ operations against the Maoists in Odisha. “At best, local operations in areas where Maoists are holding up the two Italians have been stopped,” said an official.
The Union home ministry is also relieved hearing Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik condemn Maoist action which, they say, has happened for the first time.
The government and the security forces feel the CPI (Maoist) cannot afford to harm the two Italians or even keep them abducted for too long as it would eat into whatever international support they have generated by feeding ‘wrong stories’ about tribal exploitation.
Keeping them duo in their custody for some more days will rather expose the so-called “human rights” credentials of the Maoists, a senior CRPF official said.
Another government official sees the abduction as an effort of state organising committee secretary Sabyasanchi Panda alias Sunil to come back in the reckoning after losing out to another central committee member of CPI (Maoist), Modem Balakrishna, for the top post in Odisha.
“It is unlikely that the CC approved abduction of the Italians. Moreover, the two Italians undertaking trekking tours in tribal heartland have not taken any objectionable photographs of the tribals.
The CPI (Maoist) never thought of abducting these Italians even though they have been doing the same job for the last 12 years in Odisha,” an official said.
Meanwhile, Patnaik has received a 13-point demand letter from Sunil and will take a decision to move ahead after receiving further communication from them.
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