Bhubaneswar, Apr 6 (IANS): Maoists Friday refused to release the Italian tour operator Bosusco Paolo they have kept hostage in Odisha since March 14, though the government has offered a swap.
Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda in an audio message which was aired by some local television channels described the talks the government held with the Maoists-backed mediators as a "farce" and said the Italian will be not be released.