In an calculated move, the red rebels kidnapped Italians Paolo Bosusco and Claudio Colangelo while the two were trekking in the picturesque Daringbadi area of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district in March.
Barely 10 days later, ruling BJD legislator from Laxmipur Jhina Hikaha was abducted by armed ultras of a different group in Koraput district, close to Andhra Pradesh, throwing security arrangements for elected representatives into an embarrassing redundancy.
As the twin abductions exposed fragility in security preparedness to deal with ultras, the incidents followed high drama involving hard bargaining by Maoist-selected mediators to secure the release of the hostages in phases. While Colangelo was set free after spending about 11 days in captivity, Bosusco was released after prolonged negotiations on April 12.
