Bhubaneshwar: The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Comittee, the Maoist group that has abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka, issued a fresh audio tape on Tuesday reminding the Odisha government of the deadline of Wednesday 5 pm over the fulfilment of their demands. Hikaka also spoke to Odisha Chief Secretary BK Patnaik over phone and told him that he was unhurt and fine.
The Maoists said in the audio tape that the Odisha government should convey its decision by 5 pm on Tuesday and if it agreed to release all 29 prisoners as demanded then only the MLA would be released on Wednesday. The Maoists warned that if their demands were not met them the Odisha government would be held responsible for any consequences.
The Maoists have reportedly promised to release the MLA in the presence of his wife and the prisoners' lawyer, Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, if all their demands are met.
However, dreaded Naxal Chhenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi is not a part of the list. The Maoists, who had earlier demanded release of 30 prisoners to free the tribal MLA, have also omitted the name of Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, accused of killing at least 55 police personnel, from the list, he said.
The demand for release of Ghasi had drawn protest from different quarters including the police force with Odisha Police Association (OPA) threatening to boycott anti-Naxal operations if hardcore Maoists like him were freed to secure the release of the 37-year-old Laxmipur legislator.
Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka belonging to the Biju Janata Dal was abducted on March 24 in the Koraput district.
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