The Orissa government on Saturday said it has agreed to free five of the six Maoists the abductors of the Italian have demanded for his release.

Barring any last minute hitch, Italian hostage Paolo Basusco may be freed soon from his three-week captivity by Maoists who reached an agreement with the Odisha government late on Saturday.

Another

Suspected Maoists have abducted a forest official and three workers in Bihar's Jamui district and threatened to kill them if a ransom of Rs.10 lakh was not paid, police said on Friday.

Naresh Singh,

Fresh talks were held on Friday between the Odisha government and the Maoist mediators, a day after the government named the 27 jailed people to be freed in return for the release of BJD MLA Jhina Hik

The Centre is keenly observing the hostage situation in Odisha and is believed to be against any swap of prisoners with an abducted MLA and an Italian tour guide.

The Home Ministry is not involved i

The two Maoist groups holding BJD MLA and an Italian hostage were on Friday yet to respond to the Odisha government's decision to free 27 prisoners, while the ultra mediators raised questions about th

In a grim turn to the three-week old hostage crisis, Maoists today issued a fresh ultimatum threatening to execute the abducted Italian if their demands are not met within 96 hours.

Maoists extended the deadline for fulfilment of their demands till April 7 for the release of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka while Odisha government today named the 27 prisoners to be freed for him and Italian

Maoists holding BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka for 10 days in Odisha on Tuesday set the government a Thursday deadline to meet their demands.

Appealing for his immediate release, Chief Minister Naveen

Bowing to Maoists' demands, for securing the release of a BJD MLA and an Italian from the captivity of ultra-Left activists' captivity, Odisha government on Wednesday said it would facilitate the rele