India has said necessary steps are being taken to ensure early release of two Italians kidnapped by Maoists in Odisha . Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said State government has set up a crisis management group to deal with the situation.

He said Odisha Government has already made an offer of negotiations with the captors apart from making an appeal for the release of the two hostages.

Maoists holding the Italians hostage have issued a list of 13 demands which include a ban on tourists visiting tribal areas and of the governments anti Maoists operation. Apart from release of their leaders.

Meanwhile the fate of two Italians abducted continues to be uncertain. The deadlock over selection of negotiators for talks between the Odisha Government and Maoists is on.

After a series of number of marathon meetings by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with his senior officials, no consensus could be evolved over the issue. Social activist Prafulla Samantra whose name has been proposed by the Maoists as negotiator has expressed his unwillingness to participate in the negotiation process. However, another mediator from Maoists, Dr BD Sharma has agreed to negotiate and is arriving at Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

Earlier, Maoists had proposed name of Dandapani Mohanty as a mediator and the Odisha Government has accepted the proposal. The state government on Wednesday asked the Maoists to propose a third mediator in place of Prafulla Samantra so that talks could begin at the earliest.

The Italian Ambassador to India spoke to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today over phone and expressed his concern about the safety and health of the two abducted Italians. The Home Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram talk to the Odisha Chief Minister over the issue.