Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco professes 'My love for Oriya people will never finish'

Bhubaneswar, Apr 12 (ANI): Italian national Paolo Bosusco, who was released by the Maoists on Thursday after being in their captivity for almost 29 days, thanked the people of Odisha for their kindness, saying his love for the Oriya people will never finish.

"I must thank the Oriya people for all the love, kindness and friendship that they gave me in India. I am very happy. I am very sorry that I will be leaving India, now my work is finished. But my love for the Oriya people will never finish," he said.

Bosusco also thanked the Italian envoy and the Indian Government for getting his release from the captivity of the ultras.

Italian Ambassador to India, Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte, thanked the Indian Government and in particular Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the continued support.

"This is a very happy day for Italy and for India. As Ambassador of Italy to India, I would like to express all my gratitude to the Indian authorities and in particular to the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, for all the assistance and cooperation, which obtained the successful release of Paulo Bosusco," he said.

Bosusco, who was abducted along with his countryman Claudio Colangelo by the Naxals in Odisha's Kandhamal district, was released earlier today after spending 29 days in the captivity of the ultras.

Paolo Bosusco's release came a day after Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, in an audio message, said Paolo Bosusco would be released through a "democratic process".

Panda had also said that he had received a copy of the joint statement signed by the Odisha government and the Maoist-appointed mediators, which was one of the preconditions for the release of the Italian national.

The Maoists had released Clandio Colangilo last month after keeping him for 11 days in captivity. eanwhile, Maoists have refused to release abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka unless 30 ultras are released.

Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoists) said Hikaka would not be released unless 30 ultras, including Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasid, are freed.

The three-page letter in Telugu warned that the tribal MLA will be produced before a 'Praja Court' to decide his fate if the Odisha government further delays the release of 30 ultras.

However, Odisha Home Secretary U N Behera, said that the state government has not received any fresh letter from the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoists).

Hikaka was kidnapped near Toyaput after a large group of armed men stopped him as he was being driven through a hilly area some 500 kilometres away from Bhubaneswar on March 24. (ANI)