Claudio Colangelo might not have imagined in his wildest dream that his maiden trip to the tribal hinterlands in Orissa would end up in a nightmarish experience.

Abducted BJD legislator Jhina Ekaka had overlooked the standard operating procedure (SOP) prescribed by the state home department after the February, 2011 abduction of R. Vineel Krishna, ex-collector of Malkangiri.

A ray of hope for release of the two Italian nationals held hostages by the Maoists in Orissa emerged on Friday with the two interlocutors and state government representatives declaring that they would reach “some conclusion” by Saturday evening.

The Orissa Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution appealing the Maoists to release the two Italian citizens held hostages by them since March 14.

The six-day hostage drama in Orissa took a new turn on Wednesday with Dandapani Mohanty, one of the three names proposed by the rebels to act as interlocutors, suggesting the state government to choose one from among Kobad Ghandy, Amit Bagchi and Narayan Sanyal to assist in the negotiation process.

The cloud of uncertainty over release of two abducted Italians — Bausco Paolo and Claudio Colangelo — persisted on Tuesday as the government and rebels could not decide upon the names of the interlocutors.

Almost a year after the Orissa government managed to resolve an intricate hostage crisis involving former Malkangiri collector R.

They are called “mothers” for the role they play not for themselves but for the entire nation. People in the locality honour them for their exceptional service — the affectionate acts of nurturing and nourishment they do are for the sustenance of local agriculture system and the bio-diversity they are greatly dependent on.

The Orissa government on Saturday decided to regulate the visit of foreign tourists and researchers to the areas inhabited by the “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups” (PVTRGs) such as the Bondas and Dongaria Kandhas.
According to an order of the chief minister’s office, no foreign tourists and researchers intending to visit the areas inhabited and frequented by the PVTGs will do so without the “permission” from the district magistrate.

BJD MLA from Keonjhar Sadar Subarna Naik was on Monday arrested for assaulting a female home guard on duty.
Mr Nayak was forwarded to jail after his bail petition was rejected by the local court.