Global News Post: Orissa

At Least 22 Dead in India Rains

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NEW
DELHI (RIA Novosti) - At least 22 people have been killed in southeastern India
in heavy rains resulting from Cyclone Nilam, the Indian news agency IANS
reported Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
cyclone hit <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>
last week and has seriously affected the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh.
Strong rains have virtually paralyzed road and rail connections and have
severely damaged crops, according to media reports.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Authorities
organized 86 temporary refugee camps for the more than 60,000 people that were
displaced as a result of the rains. About 500 villages are located within the
flooded area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Forecasters
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>
have warned that the rain may continue in coming days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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At Least 22 Dead in India Rains

NEW DELHI (RIA Novosti) - At least 22 people have been killed in southeastern India in heavy rains resulting from Cyclone Nilam, the In...

24 Children Die of Mysterious Disease in Odisha District

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MALKANGIRI
(NNN-PTI) -- With 24 children dying of a mysterious disease during last two
months in Odisha's Malkangiri district, the government has launched a drive to
create health awareness and conduct medical examination in the tribal-dominated
district.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We
have collected blood, water and mosquito samples in the affected areas to
ascertain the reason behind the death and augmented the drive to create health
awareness among the people", chief district medical officer (CDMO),
Sashibhushan Panda said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Twenty-four
children aged between six months and four years died in some villages under
Malkangiri and Korkunda blocks. They had swelling in their eyes, nose and ears
accompanied by high fever and blood vomiting leading to death, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A
six-member expert team of scientists from Regional Medical Research Centre
(RMRC), <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bhubaneswar</st1:place></st1:city>
visited the affected villages and collected samples for investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Another
team of doctors from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">MKCG</st1:placename>
 <st1:placename w:st="on">Medical</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype>
 <st1:placetype w:st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype></st1:place> at Berhampur was
touring the areas Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"There
is no death of children since the last three days and the situation is under
control now", the CDMO said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A
team official on condition of anonymity said that the symptoms afflicting the
children were akin to Japanese Encephalities or Dengue. However, it could be
known only after a thorough investigation of the collected samples, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Even
as the district administration was initiating steps to urge the people to get
their children to hospitals, the people, mostly tribal, were blaming witchcraft
for their troubles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"It
is a Herculian task to create awareness among the people in the district. They
have faith in their "Disari" (quack), "Wade" and
"Gunia" (black magician) and perform "Dumapuja" (invoking
the spirit). They believe that whoever goes to the hospital will invite the
curse of their deity", an official said.-NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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24 Children Die of Mysterious Disease in Odisha District

MALKANGIRI (NNN-PTI) -- With 24 children dying of a mysterious disease during last two months in Odisha's Malkangiri district, the ...

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 />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><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;"><br />
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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...

South Korean Steel Major Posco Wants Indian State to Lift Curbs on Project Site Entry

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<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-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">KOLKATA (NNN-BERNAMA) -- Posco-India, a subsidiary of South Korean steel major Posco, has asked eastern Indian state of Orissa's government to lift the restriction on entering the site of its proposed steel plant in the state to carry out project work, Xinhua news agency reported. <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-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The local authorities restricted the entry of Posco officials and foreigners to the site in Jagatsinghpur district in Orissa in December 2011 due to security concerns in view of the prevailing public protests against the project in the area. <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-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Addressing a seminar at the port town of Paradip, about 100 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar on Thursday, Posco-India chairman-cum-managing director Yong Won Yoon, said police have not lifted the restriction although the company has requested several times. <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-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Posco was to hold the seminar on its project at its site office at Nuagaon in the district, but had to shift it to the port town due to restriction on entering the site. <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-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The purpose of this seminar was to explain the progress status of its steel projects in India to the equipment suppliers and the construction companies and provide them with the basic information about its projects. <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 dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span>"Posco-India would like to express its deep regrets that the police has not lifted the restriction on entering the site although we have requested several times since December 2011 to prepare for this seminar and also proceed with the land works such as removal of betel vines and cutting trees," he 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 dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span>"At the same time, Posco-India expresses its disappointment that all the important people related with the project, such as the chief minister and the chief secretary, were not able to attend the seminar, which can be interpreted as a negative indicator for the project," he 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-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Orissa state government signed an agreement with Posco in 2005 for the 12 million tonnes annum steel project, the largest foreign investment in India. But there has been almost no progress on the ground due to local opposition. -- NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

South Korean Steel Major Posco Wants Indian State to Lift Curbs on Project Site Entry

KOLKATA (NNN-BERNAMA) -- Posco-India, a subsidiary of South Korean steel major Posco, has asked eastern Indian state of Orissa's gover...

Rescue and Relief Operations Continue in Flood-Hit Orissa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In Orissa, a total of 6 districts namely Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar have been affected due to floods in the rivers Boodabalang, Suwarnrekha, Brahmani and Batrani. Rescue and relief operations are continuing in the flood affected areas. 10 teams of NDRF (307 men with 59 boats and rescue equipment etc) are carrying out rescue and relief operations. Out of the 10 teams, 6 teams with 35 boats are deployed at Jajpur, 3 with 18 boats at Kendrapara and 1 team with 6 boats at Bhadrak. A total of 4 helicopters are already deployed for air-dropping of the food packets and rescue operations. Today, another 2 MI-17 helicopters have been deployed and two more helicopters are under deployment by the Air Force. The Central Government is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with the State Government for extending the required support and assistance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In Uttar Pradesh, due to a cyclonic depression in the area, heavy rainfall has caused flooding in 5 districts namely <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Varanasi</place></city>, Jaunpur, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli. Due to floods, 12 people have lost their lives. The State Government has deployed 2 teams of PAC.The State Government has requested for NDRF to be kept on standby. The situation has considerably improved and the water level is receding. ---PIB</span></div></div>

Rescue and Relief Operations Continue in Flood-Hit Orissa

In Orissa, a total of 6 districts namely Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar have been affected due to floods in the...

INDIA: ORISSA FLOODS- 2,600 VILLAGES SUBMERGED, 11 LAKH AFFECTED

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flood-Natures-Fury-Anita-Ganeri/dp/0749669225?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Flood (Natures Fury)" height="320" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0749669225&tag=glob036-20" width="254" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0749669225" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0749669225" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />BHUBANESWAR (NNN-PTI) -- Flood's fury in Mahanadi and other rivers has wreaked havoc in Orissa submerging about 2,600 villages and leaving eight dead as the state government today stepped up relief and rescue operations for 11 lakh affected people. (One Lakh:100,000) . --NNN-PTI </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;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=FLOODS" target="_blank">Search Amazon.com  for FLOODS</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>

INDIA: ORISSA FLOODS- 2,600 VILLAGES SUBMERGED, 11 LAKH AFFECTED

BHUBANESWAR (NNN-PTI) -- Flood's fury in Mahanadi and other rivers has wreaked havoc in Orissa submerging about 2,600 villages and leav...