BHUBANESWAR: The fate of two Italian nationals kidnapped by Maoists in Kandhamal district remained unknown even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that there will be no coercive action by the security forces as long as the Odisha State Organising Committee of the CPI (Maoist) does not indulge in any violence or other unlawful activities.In his second statement in the Assembly on Monday on the hostage crisis, Naveen said, “the statement of March 16, 2012 by the Odisha state organising committee of the CPI (Maoist) has been received by the State Government in the form of a pamphlet.” The Maoists have demanded that combing operations by security forces be stopped before discussions begin, he said.Earlier in the day, Naveen had said, “A pamphlet in the name of ‘Sunil’, secretary, Odisha State Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist), containing 13 demands of the Maoists has been received and is being examined.”Reiterating that the Government is willing to hold discussions with the Maoists immediately, the Chief Minister, however, said that inspite of the offer of the Government, the Maoists continue to indulge in violence and killing of security forces and civilians.‘’All of you will remember yesterday’s incident in Koraput district where two members of the security forces were killed in a landmine blast,” he said and appealed to the left wing extremists (LWEs) not to indulge in any form of violence in order to create a congenial environment for discussions.Making a fresh appeal to the Maoists to release the hostages, the Chief Minister said, “I once again most earnestly urge the Maoists to release the two Italian nationals immediately unharmed and also stop violence and other unlawful activities.”He said the two Italians, Paolo Bosusco and Claudio Colangelo, who were visiting some areas in Daringbadi tahsil of Kandhamal district from March 12, were kidnapped by Maoists on March 14. The abductors reported the kidnapping incident late on March 17 night through media, he said. The Chief Minister said that the Government has news from the families of the two Italians from the cities of Rome and Turin who are in great distress and are deeply concerned about the fate of their two relatives. “I hope the Maoists will pay heed and react to this information in a humane manner and release the hostages immediately,” he said.
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