Mili Panda release to end Italian hostage crisis?

All eyes are now placed on the incarcerated Mili Panda whose release may end the Italian hostage crisis. Mili is the wife of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. Among other demands, Maoists have asked the government to release Mili for Italian hostage Paulo Bususco.

With one Italian and a ruling BJD MLA still in Maoists' custody, the state government is considering the release of Mili Panda besides 26 other Maoist and ultras of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) another extremist outfit .

But, the release of Mili Panda is considered significant. “The Sabyasachi Panda's main aim is to release of his wife. I hope the release of Mili Panda will end hostage crisis in the state,” said Soubhagya S. Ray, a senior journalist working in Maoist region. 

Meanwhile, Gunpur first track court on Thursday has fixed April 10 as the date for hearing bail plea of Mili Panda in Kutinguda encounter case.

“For Italian Paulo and MLA Jhina Hikaka, we are going to free 27 prisoners, including Mili Panda according to the prior announcement made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik”, a senior Home Department official said on Thursday morning.

Mili, married to the senior Maoist leader since 1997, was believed to be an active member of the Vamsadhara unit of the outlawed CPI (Maoist). She is understood to be in charge of fund raising for the Vamsadhara dalam led by her husband. Mili was arrested in 2010.

This is the second time when Maoists have attempted her release. The abduction of Vineel Krishnan, then collector of Malkangiri district, had given her similar hope but was not fulfilled.