BHUBANESWAR: A day after the State Government announced the swap deal for release of Italian tourist guide Paolo Bosusco, the CPI(Maoist) on Friday rejected the offer and threatened to execute him. The Government is engaged in a farcical negotiation process which is unacceptable, the outfit said. The State Organising Committee of the Maoist Party gave the Government another 96 hours __ till Tuesday __ to meet the demands or face extreme action. On Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the names of 27 persons, including eight Maoists, to be released. It included names of four persons who would be released in exchange for Paolo’s freedom. But the plans suffered a setback with secretary of the Maoist Odisha State Organising Committee Sabyasachi Panda issuing an audio tape earlier in the day in which he slammed the Government for not honouring the demands. “We had asked for a signed agreement from the Government seeking release of seven political prisoners and action against security personnel involved in the excesses against innocent tribals. But the Government has ignored it,” he said in the tape. Of the four names announced by the Chief Minister, the Maoist said, only three __ Arati Majhi, Suka Nachika and Subhashree Das __ were in the original list placed by them through the mediators. The fourth named, Chakra Tadingi, did not figure in the list which the ultra outfit claimed it shows how the Government has been taking decisions unilaterally. Panda’s tape also took a dig at the abduction of Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka calling it orchestrated since the ruling party had a pre-poll agreement with Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh in the recent Zilla Parishad elections. “It all appears to be a well thought-out game-plan and the Government is clearly thrusting more importance on meeting the demands for release of the MLA,” it added. Warning the Government of “extreme action”, the Maoist said the demands for release of all seven prisoners and other issues be met on a signed agreement if the former is serious about the Italian’s safe release. “The Government will be responsible for any international ramification,” it said. The State Government, rattled by the rejection, has asked for the audio message. Home Secretary U N Behera said the transcript is being examined. Earlier, he and his team of Government negotiators had met the two Maoist interlocutors to apprise them about the announcement for release of 27 prisoners. Paolo was abducted on March 14 along with another tourist Claudio Colangelo. Claudio was freed on March 25.
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