Bhubaneswar: The wife of Maoist leader
Sabyasachi Panda, whose outfit claimed to have abducted
Italian national Paolo Basusco, on Tuesday appealed to the ultras
not to harm the hostage.
"I appeal to the Maoists not to harm the hostage,"
Subhasree Das alias Mili Panda told reporters while being
produced at a court in Rayagada district.
Subhasree was acquitted by the high court in a case under
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, but was rearrested for
alleged involvement in Maoist activities.
Her appeal came a day after her husband, the secretary of
Odisha State Organising Committee of CPI(Maoist), issued a
threat on audio tape to the media.
"We may take the extreme step if the government launches
an offensive to release the hostage," he had said.
Panda`s outfit had earlier claimed to have abducted two
Italian nationals Claudio Colangelo and Paolo Basusco on March
14. Though Coangelo was released on March 25 on humanitarian
grounds, Basusco is still in Maoist captivity.
The outfit has demanded immediate release of seven
persons, including Sabyasachi`s wife in jail at Gunupur.
Asking the state government to resolve the hostage crisis
politically, Subhasree also appealed to the abductors of BJD
MLA Jhina Hikaka to release him.
Hikaka was taken hostage by the Srikakulam-Koraput
Division of the Andhra-Odisha Special Border Committee of the
CPI(Maoist) on the night of March 23.
"Please do not harm the MLA. He hails from a tribal family
and works for the welfare of the tribal people," Subhasree
told reporters at the Gunupur court premises.
Like Maoists, Hikaka has also been working for tribals,
she said.
PTI
