Bhubaneswar, April 12
After being in captivity for nearly a month, Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco was released by Maoists today under a swap deal with the Odisha Government for freeing five jailed ultras.

However, the fate of ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka was still unknown with another Maoist group holding him hostage since March 24 refusing to release him unless 30 rebels, including the one accused in the killing of 55 policemen, are set free.

Twenty-nine days after being abducted, 54-year-old Bosusco was handed over by the Maoists to their mediator Dandapani Mohanty in the presence of some journalists near Raikia in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district.

A visibly relieved Bosusco told newsmen, "I must thank the Odia people for all their love and friendship that they have given me for the last 22 years. I have special love for Odisha."

"I met Panda who handed over the Italian to me this morning near Raikia. Bosusco was then brought here and handed over to the Odisha government," Mohanty said.

Bosusco, a Puri-based tour guide, had been abducted along with 61-year-old Italian tourist Colangelo on March 14 while trekking in the forests of the Daringbadi area in Kandhamal district.

Maoists freed Colangelo on March 25 as a "goodwill gesture" but kept Bosusco hostage for fulfilment of their demands.

"We are relieved and happy," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He also appealed to the abductors of Hikaka to release the 37-year-old Laxmipur MLA immediately, unharmed and in good health.

Italian Ambassador Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte met Bosusco soon after he was brought here.

"I am happy for the release of Bosusco. I will like to express my gratitude to Indian authorities and particularly to Odisha Chief Minister for all the assistance and cooperation given for the safe release of Bosusco."

His release came two days after top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's wife Subhashree Panda, alias Mili Panda, was released from jail following her acquittal by a Gunupur court in an encounter case of 2004.

Subhashree was one of the seven persons whose release the Maoists had demanded as one of the conditions to set free the Italian, who had spent the last 19 years in Puri running a travel agency.

The state government had agreed to release five persons, including Subhashree, in order to secure the freedom of Bosusco unharmed and in good health. Mohanty, who along with B D Sharma held talks on behalf of the Maoists with state government officials on the Italian hostage issue, said he handed over a copy of the joint statement to Panda, who was not fully satisfied. The Naxals wanted the government to withdraw cases against prisoners sought to be freed instead of trying their release on bail, he said.

"However, after a long discussion, I persuaded the Maoists to release Bosusco," Mohanty said.