Two Italian nationals have been kidnapped by Maoists for clicking pictures of tribals in the state.
Appealing to Maoists to immediately release two abducted Italian nationals, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said that there would be no coercive action by security forces as long as the extremists did not indulge in any violence.
"There would be no cohesive action by the security forces as long as the Odisha State Organising Committee of the CPI(Maoist) does not indulge in any violence and other unlawful activities," Patnaik said in a statement in the Assembly.
Expressing concern over the killing of security men by Maoists yesterday even after the state government's offer to hold talks with rebels, he appealed to the Maoists not to indulge in any form of violence in order to create a congenial environment for discussion.
Two security men were killed in a land mine explosion in Koraput on Sunday and the Maoists were demanding stoppage of combing operation before beginning talks, Patnaik said.
Patnaik said the Maoists should nominate their representatives without further delay to start negotiation for the release of the two Italians.
"We have news from the families of the two Italians from Rome and Turin who are in great distress," Patnaik said adding the rebels should react in a humane manner and release the hostages immediately.
Meanwhile, a pamphlet containing 13 demands of Maoists for release of the two was received by the state government.
"A pamphlet in the name of 'Sunil', Secretary, Odisha State Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist) containing 13 demands of the Maoists, has been received," he said adding that the pamphlet is being examined by the state government.
Two Italians, Paolo Boscusco and Claudio Colangelo, who were visiting some areas in Daringbadi Tahsil of Kandhamal district from March 12, had been abducted by Maoists on March 14 but the abductors reported the kidnapping on March 17 night through the media, he said.
Paolo Bosusco has been staying in India for the last 19 years in Puri and was running a travel agency named "Odisha Adventurous Trekking" which has been organising trips to different parts of the state for tourists, while Colangelo is a tourist from Italy, Patnaik said.
Informing the House about the state government's efforts for the release of the hostages, Patnaik said, "I have spoken to External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram informing them about the developments."
"The Italian Ambassador to India also spoke to me yesterday and I apprised him about the present position, while the Consul General of Italy based in Kolkata has arrived in Bhubaneswar yesterday," he said.
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