NEW DELHI: India Monday assured Italy that all efforts are being made for an early release of two Italians abducted in Odisha when Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi called his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna. "India assures Italy that all efforts are being made to secure release of Italians kidnapped in Odisha," Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson of the external affairs ministry, said in a tweet on the microblogging site.
The authorities in Odisha Monday intensified efforts for the release of two Italian nationals abducted by Maoist guerrillas. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his government is examining a pamphlet in which the rebels have set out 13 demands. State Home Secretary U.N. Behera said the government was taking all necessary steps for the safe release of Bosusco Paolo, 54, and Claudio Colangelo, 61, who were kidnapped March 14. The kidnapping came to light Saturday night.