Month-long Italian hostage drama ends with Bosusco's release

                                                                           

Bhubaneswar, Apr 12 :After being in captivity for nearly a month, Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco was released by Maoists on Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco was released by the Maoists today, 29 days after he was abducted along with his countryman Claudio Colangelo by the Naxals in Odisha's Kandhamal district.

Bosusco (54) was handed over by the Maoists to their mediator Dandapani Mohanty and some journalists in the forest of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district bordering Gajapati and Ganjam, official sources said.
Bosusco, a Puri-based Italian tour operator, had been abducted along with 61-year-old tourist Colangelo from his country on March 14 while trekking in the forests of Daringbadi area in Kandhamal district.
The Italian national was brought to the state capital in the company of mediapersons and Mohanty who, along with B D Sharma, negotiated with three Odisha government representatives for his release.
Saying that he loves Odisha very much, Bosusco told reporters, "I am happy being a free man now. I am tired and need some rest."

Thursday under a swap deal with the Odisha government for freeing five jailed ultras.        

However, the fate of ruling Biju Janata Dal legislator Jhina Hikaka was still unknown with another Maoist group holding him hostage since March 24, refusing to release him unless 30 rebels, including the one accused in the killing of 55 policemen, are set free.  

Twenty-nine days after being abducted, 54-year-old Bosusco was handed over by the Maoists to their mediator Dandapani Mohanty in the presence of some journalists near Raikia in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district.        

A visibly relieved Bosusco said, “I must thank the Odia people for all their love and friendship that they have given me for the last 22 years. I have special love for Odisha.” Mohanty said he was called by Sabyasachi Panda, leader of the Maoists' Odisha State Organising Committee on Wednesday and proceeded to Kandhamal.        

“I met Panda who handed over the Italian to me this morning nera Raikia. Bosusco was then brought here and handed over to the Odisha government,” he said.

Bosusco, a Puri-based tour guide, had been abducted along with 61-year-old Italian tourist Colangelo on March 14 while trekking in the forests of the Daringbadi area in Kandhamal district.        Maoists freed Colangelo on March 25 as a “goodwill gesture” but kept Bosusco hostage for fulfilment of their demands.