Global News Post: Naxals

India: Controversy Breaks Out Over Anti-Naxal Encounter

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- A controversy has erupted over the killing of 19 persons in anti-Maoist operations by security forces in eastern Indian state of Chattisgarh last week amid questions whether the victims were all Naxals with Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday saying the rebels were using humans as "shields".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Singh and the CRPF defended the encounter while social activist Swami Agnivesh condemned the incident, claiming innocent tribals lost their lives in a "cold-blooded murder."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The incident was the most brutal since independence, Agnivesh said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CPI (M) demanded a time-bound judicial inquiry into last week's killing by CRPF and state police of 19 people, including a woman and two children, alleging they were either brutally axed to death or killed in "indiscriminate firing".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With his government coming under attack from the opposition Congress over the incident, Singh said if any innocent person was killed or injured, then the Naxals must be held responsible for it as they often use innocent villagers as back-up for themselves during such gunfight and use them as "human shields".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Singh said the Congress should not politicise the matter. The Congress alleged that the incident was a "completely fake encounter" and that the victims "innocent Adivasis."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At least 19 suspected Naxals were killed in a fierce gunfight in the dense jungles of Dantewada during the night-long encounter on June 27-28 in a joint operation by over 300 CRPF and state police personnel in three directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rejecting allegations that innocent villagers were killed, Union Home Secretary RK Singh said six CRPF personnel were also injured in the encounter. He also pointed out that one woman was killed in the encounter and that Naxal outfits had women cadres.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Home Minister P Chidambaram, while interacting with the media in the national capital last week, had identified three important naxals leaders-- Somulu, Nagesh and Mahesh—who were killed in the gunbattle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The CRPF claimed its men had retaliated to firing from the rebels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We never resorted to the firing. It was provoked from the other side. We had to protect ourselves after so many were injured in open fire...Twice our people retreated on seeing women and children in the front," CRPF DG Vijay Kumar said. -- NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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India: Controversy Breaks Out Over Anti-Naxal Encounter

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- A controversy has erupted over the killing of 19 persons in anti-Maoist operations by security forces in eastern...

India: Odisha Rejects MHA'S Remark on Increase in Naxal Violence

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BHUBANESWAR (NNN-PTI): Rejecting the Centre's charge that Odisha failed to contain Left Wing Extremism, the state's Director General of Police has claimed that Naxal violence had declined in 2011 compared to the year before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Naxal situation in most parts of the state had been controlled while it was a cause of concern for the state government in areas bordering Chattishgarh," DGP Manmohan Praharaj wrote to Union Home Secretary R K Singh Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Claiming that Naxal activity in Malkangiri district was well under control, he said the Kalinga Nagar division of the CPI (Maoist) was no longer active.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Earlier, it was active in Keonjhar, Jajpur and Dhenkanal districts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Similarly, Naxal violence had also declined in the districts of Sambalpur, Deogarh and Sundergarh, the DGP said but admitted that Narayanpatna area in Koraput district, parts of Kandhamal district and areas bordering Chhattishgarh had been a "cause of concern".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The districts bordering Chhattishgarh where Naxal violence had increased comprised Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We have expedited anti-Maoist operation in such areas," Praharaj said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Home Ministry had in a communication to the DGP and Principal Secretary (Home) of Odisha government referred to an "alarming" rise in the activities of Maoists and blamed the government for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Odisha is the only state in India where activities of CPI (Maoists) are spreading to new areas at an alarming rate without requisite counter-measures by the state government," the missive had said. -NNN-PTI</span></div>

India: Odisha Rejects MHA'S Remark on Increase in Naxal Violence

BHUBANESWAR (NNN-PTI): Rejecting the Centre's charge that Odisha failed to contain Left Wing Extremism, the state's Director Gen...

India: New Conditions By Maoists Make Release of Hostages Uncertain

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BHUBANESWAR (INDIA) (NNN-PTI) -- As the deadline set by the abductors of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka and Italian tour guide Paolo Bosusco ends on Tuesday, the chances of an early solution to the twin hostage crises in eastern Indian state of Odisha appeared to have receded with both the Maoist groups placing new conditions for the duo's release from captivity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While the release of Italian Paolo Bosusco became uncertain with the Maoists asking the state government to 'clarify' how many ultras would be freed, another group of Naxals holding Laxmipur Biju Janata Dal(BJD) legislative assembly member Jhina Hikaka hostage also wanted immediate release of 30 people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A day after the Maoist group holding the 37-year-old MLA hostage asked his wife to reach a village in Koraput district on Tuesday along with 30 freed prisoners for release of Hikaka, the state government on Monday remained tight-lipped on the issue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a letter released Sunday night to the media, the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists not only sought an immediate release of more number of<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">prisoners, but also their physical presence for the MLA's release.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ultras wanted Hikaka's wife Kaushalya to reach Balipeta in the Naxal-hit Narayanpatna area Tuesday along with 30 rebels, including 23 people whose release the Odisha<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">government had decided to facilitate and seven more rebels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The letter, bearing the name of a senior Maoist leader and addressed to the media, said the MLA's wife should also be accompanied by two Naxal-nominated mediators - B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty - engaged in the Italian hostage crisis and Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the Maoist-nominated mediators B D Sharma had meanwhile left the state capital for Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Maoists said they would hand over the abducted MLA to them, provided they do not bring along any police or intelligence official.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The letter came a day after the Maoists extended the deadline for fulfilment of their demands till April 10. They had initially fixed April 5 as deadline and then extended it<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">till April 7. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Though Hikaka's abductors had on April 7 demanded release of five more persons in addition to the 23 agreed by the state government, two more names were added last night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier said that the government was examining the demand of the MLA's abductors for release of five more persons.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The state government has agreed to facilitate release of 23 prisoners including 15 members of Naxal-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) and eight Maoists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hikaka had been abducted in Koraput district while returning home at Laxmipur after attending a meeting in Koraput on March 24.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lawyer Nihar Patnaik, who fights cases for Maoists, received a copy of the two-page letter in Telugu script, but he said the red rebels had not contacted him so far over this new matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, the release of Paolo Bosusco, abducted on March 14, hit roadblocks on Sunday with the Maoists asking the state government to first "clarify" how many ultras would be<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">set free and how many of its 13 demands would be met.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Odisha State Organising Committee secretary Sabyasachi Panda in an audio message to the media said they had demanded release of seven persons and the government had earlier agreed to release six, but finally said it would free only five.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"This has created suspicion and the government should make it clear how many are going to be released along with their names," Panda said and demanded that the government<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">clarify how many of his group's 13 demands were accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"There seems to be some confusion. Government negotiators and Maoist-appointed mediators had come to a clear conclusion on April 7. I do hope these will be cleared by them<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">soon," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after holding an emergency meeting on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He said the Italian Ambassador had again called him to enquire about Bosusco. -- NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: New Conditions By Maoists Make Release of Hostages Uncertain

BHUBANESWAR (INDIA) (NNN-PTI) -- As the deadline set by the abductors of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka and Italian tour guide Paolo Bosusco ends on ...

India: Foreign Tourist Ban Extended Across Maoists-Affected Districts in Orissa

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NEW DELHI (NNN-ANI) -- Local authorities in the Indian state of Orissa have extended a ban on foreign tourists from visiting Maoist-affected areas across the state following the abduction of two Italian nationals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was also one of the conditions put forward by the Maoists.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Following the incident, authorities enforced the ban in the state's Rayagada District on March 24. Since then, the ban has been imposed across the state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"In our district we have imposed some certain restrictions on the movement of foreign nationals in our PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) areas, which were earlier known as Primitive Tribal Groups Area. These restrictions have been imposed on the view of the recent incidents of abductions of foreign nationals which occurred in these areas. So that is the reason why we have imposed these restrictions," said Nitin Bhanudas Jawle, the Collector for Rayagada District.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"We will be reassessing our security situation and we will be taking call on it either way, to allow foreign tourists in particular areas. But then the district administration wants to inform that this is purely a temporary measure and it is taken into consideration the security of the foreign tourists and the foreign nationals in this area. We have taken this step," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ban is set to take a toll on the earnings of travel agents who specialise in organising tours of Rayagada district's ancient temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This has put a lot of inconvenience suddenly because a lot of groups which were scheduled for the season upto March or April will have to be cancelled. Adding to that is that a lot of foreign tourist operators raised their concern about this issue and they also started cancelling the groups till October. So it is an area of great concern for the industry and we would like to take it forward with the government," said Benjamin Simon, President of the Travel Agents' Association of Orissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Italian tourist Claudio Colangelo was taken hostage along with tour guide Paolo Bosusco while swimming in a river in the state's remote Ganjam district on March 14.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While Colangelo was released 11 days later to a group of reporters from Indian news network NDTV, Bosusco remains in the custody of the rebels. -- NNN-ANI</span></div></div>

India: Foreign Tourist Ban Extended Across Maoists-Affected Districts in Orissa

NEW DELHI (NNN-ANI) -- Local authorities in the Indian state of Orissa have extended a ban on foreign tourists from visiting Maoist-affe...

Italian Tourists' Abduction: India in Touch With Italy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">NEW DELHI (NNN-AGENCIES) -- India is in touch with Italy to facilitate assistance through authorities concerned in connection with the kidnapping of two Italian tourists who were abducted by Maoists from a tribal-dominated area in Odisha, official sources said Monday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Ministry of External Affairs contacted Italy after the abduction that took place Sunday night, the sources said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Odisha's Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj said, "There is information about abduction of two persons by Maoists in Kandhamal district. Further details are awaited." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">State Home Secretary U N Behera said the abduction took place last night. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kandhamal District Collector R P Patil said the incident was believed to have taken place in the bordering area of Kandhamal and Ganjam districts and the situation was being closely monitored though no detailed information was available immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A senior police officer said the foreigners, who had visited the area on March 12 along with two others from Puri, were identified as Bosusco Paolo and Claudio Colangelo. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meanwhile, the Maoists have accused their two Italian abductees of denigrating the tribal population and demanded an immediate ban on the entry of tourists and foreign visitors in the tribal belts of Odisha. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The guerrilla group abducted two Italians- Bosusco Paolo, 55, a tour operator who has been living in Puri intermittently for almost 15 years and Claudio Colangelo, 60 who had gone to Daringibadi hill station a week ago, along with two local guides in the tribal dominated Kandhamal-Ganjam region in Odisha. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Though the red brigade set March 18 as the deadline for the government to comply with its demands, the negotiations, reportedly, are still on. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In their charter of demands, signed by Sunil, the secretary of the state Maoist party alleged that Bosusco Paolo had been exploiting the tribal belt for his own benefit. The Maoists alleged that Paolo and his aides treated tribal people like animals. The Left wing terrorists said that they had taken the Italians into their custody to stop "human safari". <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sources said that the Maoists had been following Paolo's movement in the region for a while. Paolo was a frequent visitor in the tribal villages of Kandhmal bordering Ganjam district and he would inform about his journey to some of his local contacts who perhaps leaked it to the rebel brigade. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In their charter, the rebels demanded the release of the tribal activists who were arrested either during anti-land acquisition movements against POSCO and Vedanta, or for their alleged links with the Maoists. The charter comprises the expected demands like the withdrawal of security forces from forests and the release of their arrested leaders including Sujata, wife of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The demands suggest that the Maoists are in a bid to strengthen the tribal support base by raising their demands. Though their official deadline is over, their letter hinted at keeping the channels of dialogue open. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sources said the Odisha state government was already in touch with a mediator to continue the negotiation and the Maoists confirmed that both the hostages were safe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The hostage crisis has already forced the state government to suspend counter-insurgency operations against the Maoists. The Maoists are now pressurizing the government to open a safe passage for the Maoists before taking the negotiations forward. Sources said that till this evening, the government was expecting concrete points of discussion from the Maoist camp. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sources said that till this evening, the government was expecting concrete points of discussion from the Maoist camp. -- NNN-AGENCIES</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span> </div></div>

Italian Tourists' Abduction: India in Touch With Italy

NEW DELHI (NNN-AGENCIES) -- India is in touch with Italy to facilitate assistance through authorities concerned in connection with the ki...

India: Gunbattle between Maoists and Security Forces

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">JHARGRAM/MIDNAPORE (NNN-PTI): Joint forces searching for top Maoist leader Akash fought a pitched battle with Naxals Friday in the jungles of Jhargram in <st1:place w:st="on">West  Midnapore</st1:place> district leader. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Police said the joint forces acting on a tip-off went to Borobari jungle, near Jhargram, early Friday morning in search of CPI(Maoist) <st1:place w:st="on">West  Bengal</st1:place> unit secretary Akash, considered the second-most important Maoist leader in the state after Kishenji <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As the joint forces approached the area, the Maoists opened fire. When the security personnel retaliated, the Maoists fled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">A combing operation has been launched in the jungle that extends upto Jharkhand, the police said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Akash had demanded an inquiry by an independent body into the killing of Maoist Politburo leader Kishenji by security forces in the district on November 24. -NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: Gunbattle between Maoists and Security Forces

JHARGRAM/MIDNAPORE (NNN-PTI): Joint forces searching for top Maoist leader Akash fought a pitched battle with Naxals Friday in the jungles...

India: Top Maoist Commander Killed

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Indian officials say a top commander of the country's Maoist rebels</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">has been killed in eastern India.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Koteswar Rao, known as Kishenji, was reportedly shot dead Thursday</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">during a gunbattle in a forest in the West Midnapore district of West</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bengal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rao was wanted for the killing of a number of police officers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Indian Home Secretary R.K. Singh said Rao's killing is a "huge</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">setback" for the Maoists, nothing that he was number three in the</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">rebel group's hierarchy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Maoist rebels, known as Naxalites or Naxals, have infiltrated more</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">than 20 Indian states.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Indian leaders have referred to Naxalism as the country's biggest</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">internal security threat. The groups include some of the country's</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">most extreme poor, who say they are struggling against</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">state-sanctioned acquisition of their land and natural resources.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thousands of civilian and police deaths in India are blamed on Naxal</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">attacks since the groups emerged in the late 1960s.---VOA News</span></div></div>

India: Top Maoist Commander Killed

Indian officials say a top commander of the country's Maoist rebels has been killed in eastern India. Koteswar Rao, known as Kishenji,...

Suspected Maoist Rebels Kill 6 Indian Police

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Suspected Maoist rebels have killed six Indian police officers in central <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Friday's attack took place in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, one of the states worst affected by the Maoist insurgency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Police say at least three other officers were wounded when the rebels opened fire on 16 policemen traveling on motorcycles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The police officers were returning from a village where rebels had reportedly carried out another attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Maoist rebels, known as Naxalites or Naxals, have infiltrated more than 20 Indian states.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Indian leaders have referred to Naxalism as the country's biggest internal security threat. The groups include some of the country's most extreme poor, who say they are struggling against state-sanctioned acquisition of their land and natural resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The rebels are widely seen as terrorists. Thousands of civilian and police deaths in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> are blamed on Naxal attacks since the groups emerged in the late 1960s.---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Suspected Maoist Rebels Kill 6 Indian Police

Suspected Maoist rebels have killed six Indian police officers in central India . Friday's attack took place in the Bastar district o...