Italians' abduction: Maoists want ban of tourists in tribal areas

Making their demands for the release of two Italian nationals kidnapped in Orissa, Maoists on Sunday insisted on the ban of tourists and foreign visitors in the tribal belts of the state.

Paulo Bosusco, 54, and Claudio Colangelo, 61, were abducted while visiting forested areas in Daringbadi Tahsil of Kandhamal district.

One of the two abducted Italians has been staying in Puri for the last 19 years and has been running an adventure tourism agency.

Chief Minister of Orissa Naveen Patnaik today said a pamphlet containing 13 demands of the Maoists was received.

"Tribals are not commodities for tourists and tribal areas not meant for tourism. This should be clearly announced by the state government and those violating this should be arrested and punished," states the first demand on the pamphlet, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

The others included withdrawal of cases against tribal people lodged in jails; halt of green hunt operation; release of Maoist prisoners; stopping police crackdown on anti-land acquisition movements; and access to drinking water and free medical facility.

According to sources, the two Italians had driven down from Puri and entered a forested area inspite of being warned by Daringibadi police about Maoists.

A driver and cook who were accompanying them and their vehicle were released by the Maoists subsequently.

Chief Minister Patnaik Sunday said the government was open for talks with the rebels. He had also appealed the abductors to communicate with the government.

"I condemn the kidnapping. I urge the Maoists to release them on humanitarian grounds," the Chief Minister told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

This is the first time any foreigner has been kidnapped by Maoists

Reports say the two men were kidnapped as they were seen taking pictures of local women bathing on the riverside.