Odisha does not want foreigners in Maoist-affected areas
May 3rd, 2012 - 11:26 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, May 3 (IANS) Odisha has decided to discourage visits by foreigners to Maoist-affected areas, Tourism Minister Prafulla Samal said Thursday.
“We will tell all the tour operators not to take foreign tourists, for the time being, to the areas which are sensitive,” he told reporters.
The state government’s move came after the Maoists abducted two Italians Claudio Colangelo and Paolo Bosusco from Kandhamal district March 14 and released them several weeks later after the government agreed to some of their demands.
Colangelo and Paolo were released March 25 and April 12, respectively. The rebels also abducted Jhina Hikaka, a legislator, March 24 from Koraput district. He was freed April 26.
The Maoists are active in 26 of the state’s 30 districts.
- Efforts intensified to secure release of Odisha hostages - Mar 26, 2012
- Maoists release second Italian (Lead) - Apr 12, 2012
- Maoists release Italian hostage, MLA still missing (Second Lead) - Apr 12, 2012
- Hostage crisis: Odisha to release 27 prisoners (Lead) - Apr 05, 2012
- 'Can't be blackmailed on Odisha crisis' - Apr 02, 2012
- Maoists set Thursday deadline for abducted legislator (Lead) - Apr 03, 2012
- Maoists release one abducted Italian (Lead) - Mar 25, 2012
- Odisha Maoists yet to respond to mediators' appeal - Apr 02, 2012
- Maoists reiterate demands to free second Italian - Mar 26, 2012
- Maoists set Thursday deadline for abducted Odisha legislator - Apr 03, 2012
- Hope of Italian's release brighten after mediators' appeal - Mar 31, 2012
- Maoists release Italian hostage, MLA still held (Roundup) - Apr 12, 2012
- Hostage crisis: Odisha seeks more time to examine Maoist demands - Mar 30, 2012
- Odisha to decide on rescuing hostages: Chidambaram - Mar 31, 2012
- Maoists set Thursday deadline for abducted legislator (Second Lead) - Apr 04, 2012
Tags: abducted, claudio colangelo, foreigners, italians, legislator, maoist, maoists, march 25, odisha, rebels, samal, state government, tour operators, tourism minister, tourists