The Orissa government and Maoist interlocutors Monday resumed talks to free Basusco Paulo, the e second Italian being held hostage in the forests of Kandhamal, nearly 350 km from here.
The Maoists’ Srikakulam-Koraput divisional committee and Andhra-Orissa border special zonal committee, which have taken hostage Laxmipur BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka, sent a 10-point charter of demands to the state government.
Mr Hikaka, meanwhile, in a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, urged him to halt Operation Gre-en Hunt immediately and agree to all the Maoists’ demands. He said he was all right and was being treated well by the rebels.
Interlocutor Dandapani Mohanty said: “We resu-med talks in a very cordial atmosphere, and I hope we reach an agreement soon.”