Bhubaneswar:Former bureaucrat BD Sharma, one of the mediators chosen by Maoists to negotiate with the Odisha government for the release of two Italian hostages in their captivity, will reach Bhubaneshwar on Thursday.
This was announced by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday. He said "BD Sharma is expected to arrive in Bhubaneswar tomorrow. He has has agreed to negotiate on behalf of the CPI (Maoist)."
Dandapani Mohanty, another negotiator chosen by the Maoists and approved by the state government, has already arrived in the state capital.
Maoists on Wednesday offered to release one of the two abducted Italians in Odisha on the condition that the government accepted some of their 13 demands.
Patnaik also hit out at the Centre for not helping the state in the case. He said that the central government did not do anything to end the hostage crisis.
Two Italians - Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo - were abducted while trekking in Kandhamal district on March 14.
The two Italians had driven down from Puri and entered a forested area inspite of being warned by the Daringibadi police about the presence of Maoists.
A driver and cook who were accompanying them and their vehicle were released by the Maoists subsequently.
A report from Puri said that the driver, Kartik Parida, and cook, Santosh, were interrogated by the police.
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