BHUBANESWAR: Paolo was given a daily diet of rice and dal barring one day when he got chicken. Most of the days, the vegetables would include green ripe bananas and papayas. He has lost 10 kg. He remained healthy but was afflicted by malaria twice. But, he was not taken to a hospital.The rebels, who carry testing kits with them, examined him, found him malaria positive and gave him necessary medicine. And he recovered. He was allowed to listen to Odia news four times daily. Once Sabyasachi Panda, the Maoist commander, even showed him an Italian movie in his laptop. He was blind-folded on the first day only. He was made to walk long distances in the forest everyday as the Maoists changed their hideout frequently.They mostly stayed at hilltops, a vantage position strategically. The group he was with had 21 members, 20 of them armed. At least twice, the group came close to encountering another outfit and Sabyasachi was worried of such an eventuality, he told police.Paolo also regretted that his travel guide career was over after the kidnapping and no one will come ahead for trekking anymore.
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