Naxals releaseItalian after 29 days: sources

IBNLive| Apr.12 2012 Bhubaneswar: Italian national Paolo Boscusco isbelieved to have been released by the Naxals inOdisha, according to sources. A formal announcement is awaited. Paolo Boscusco had been held hostage by the Odisha unit of the Naxals for the last 29 days. His release came a day after Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda in his audio message had said that he would free the abducted if the government honoured its agreement signed with thenegotiators. In the audio tape released by the Naxal leader, he claimed that the Italian tourist himself wanted the government to release one tribal woman before he is freed. Panda had said that if thegovernment obeys their pact, then the Italian hostage would soon be released. This came after his wife Subhashree Panda was acquitted. Subhashree Panda was arrested and jailed in 2010 in connection with an encounter case. Two Italian nationals Paolo Boscusco and Claudia Colangelo were taken hostage by the Naxals on March 14 from Surada Police Station areawhich comes under the Ganjam District bordering Kandhamal. The 61-year-old Colangelo, who was not keeping well, was released on March 25 andwas handed over to a group of three journalistsnear Kandhamal. However, there was no word yet on BJD MLA JhinaHikaka who has been heldhostage by another faction of the Naxals in Odisha.