Two Italian tourists were abducted in the tribal-dominated Ganjam district of Odisha by Maoists, who demanded an immediate end to anti-Naxal operations and release of some of their jailed colleagues.

The Italian tourists, Bosusco Paolo, functioning as a tour operator in Puri, and Claudio Colangelo, who were on a trekking tour on the Ganjam-Kandhamal border, were abducted by Maoists on Saturday, Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

As a deadline set by the Maoists for fulfilling their demands ended on Sunday evening, Home Ministry officials said in Delhi that no combing operations have been carried out against the Naxals after the abduction of the two Italians, as both the central and state governments wanted to tread cautiously on the issue.

State Home Secretary U N Behera, who negotiated with the Maoist-selected mediators during the last year's kidnapping of IAS officer R V Krishna, said that the state government had kept all channels open for a discussion with the kidnappers.

"According to information available with the state government the abducted tourists are safe," Behera said, adding the state government had not contacted any person to negotiate with the kidnappers.

After reviewing the situation, Chief Secretary Patnaik told reporters that there was still "no information on the whereabouts of the abducted Italian tourists."

Maoists have demanded immediate halt to combing operation and fulfilment of the 13-point negotiations with the state government following the kidnapping of the then Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna in February last year. The 30-year-old IAS officer was freed by Maoists after nine days in captivity.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna spoke to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who briefed him on the efforts being made to secure the release of the hostages.

The Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with Italy to facilitate assistance through the authorities concerned and is keeping it informed about the latest developments in the abduction case, official sources said in Delhi.

The Italian tourists had come from Puri by a vehicle and had ventured into the forested area despite being warned of the Maoist menace by the Daringibadi police station.

They were accompanied by a driver and cook, the Chief Secretary said adding that the Maoists, however, released the two along with the vehicle.

Appealing to the Maoists to release the two Italians, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his government was open to "any kind of negotiation under the law".

"I appeal to the Left-wing extremists to immediately release the foreign tourists on humanitarian ground. Odisha government is open to any kind of negotiation with the kidnappers under the law," he said.

"I also condemn this heinous crime. No one will condone this kind of act in a civil society," Patnaik said.

Italian Consul General Joel Melchiori rushed to Bhubaneswar and discussed the issue with Odisha authorities.

"We hope to solve the issue as soon as possible....and hopefully they will be rescued," he said.

After his meeting with the Behera, the Italian envoy said, "We are hopeful that the kidnappers will accept the appeal made by the chief minister to release the hostages. We are working together with the police and administration."

He hoped the abductors would extend the deadline set by them for meeting their demands.

Melchiori said his country would revise the travel advisory to their nationals and ask them to abide by the advice of local authorities.

"We cannot control their movements, but we can advise them," he said.

The chief secretary said the state government was awaiting response from the Maoists to the CM's appeal.

Asked whether the state government has stopped combing operation, he said: "Let us wait for the response from the other side. A decision in this regard could be taken only after getting feedback from the Maoist side".

However, a Home Ministry official said in Delhi, that after the abduction of the two Italians, no combing operation has been carried out against the Naxals.

But, he maintained that no formal order has been given to the central paramilitary forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations as they operate under the state government's command. "They are where they should be," the official said.

The Maoists, who claimed responsibility for the abduction of the foreign tourists through some private news channels around midnight last night, however, said the kidnapping had taken place on March 14.

In their communication to the TV channels, the Maoists claimed that the foreigners were taken hostage while allegedly taking objectionable photographs of tribals in interior areas despite a ban by the state government on such activities.

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