Mediators appeal to Maoists,hopes brighten for Bosusco release

Bosusco (55) was abducted from the jungles on the Kandhamal-Ganjam border along with friend Claudio Colangelo on March 14. Colangelo had been released on March 25 after a similar appeal by the interlocutors on humanitarian grounds.

“We hope the Maoists would release Bosusco like Colangelo,” said interlocutors B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty,suspending their mediation on Saturday after the government said meeting the Maoist demand would take some time.

They said they would come back for talks when the government calls them with replies to the Maoist demands.

Their appeal was broadcast on All India Radio and BBC as the Maoists have access to only radio transmission in the deep forest.

The fate of abducted Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka,meanwhile,remains unknown. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has made several appeals since the March 24 abduction to send mediators for talks,without any response.

All tour operators have been told to stop movement of foreign nationals and tourists in Rayagada district. Officials refused to say when the restrictions,imposed in the wake of the abduction of the Italians,would be lifted.