Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: About 500 relatives of the victims of Maoist violence in state today took out a silent procession here demanding safe release of the two Italians abducted by the Maoists.

With their mouth covered with a white cloth as a mark of protest and holding placards, the people under the banner of Naxal Hinsa Prapidita Manch (NHPM) took out a procession on the high security Mahatma Gandhi Marg in front of the state assembly.

The placards read `Release Italians`, `Stop Naxal Violence`, `Stop Sexual Harassment of Lady Maoist Cadres`, `Hang Naxals`, `Naxals Tume Odisha Chhada`, `Provide Rs 10 lakh to Deceased Family` and `Provide Job to Victim`s Family`.

Later, a delegation of the rallyists went to the Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor M C Bhandare. Their demands include safe release of the two Italians and payment of ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the family of those killed in Maoist violence.

The protesters, including women and children, came all the way from far off Maoist-hit districts including Koraput, Malkangiri, Nawarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj.

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