Talks on to free Italian hostages

State authorities in Odisha are endeavouring to establish contact and negotiate with the Maoists responsible for abducting two Italian tourists. Chief secretary of Odisha, BK Patnaik said this while briefing the mediapersons at Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Commenting on the latest developments, Patnaik said authorities are awaiting response to the state's chief minister Naveen Patnaik's personal appeal to the rebels to free the hostages. The Italian Consul General, Joel Melchiori who is currently camping in Bhubaneswar, said that he is working closely with state authorities to find a solution for the situation.