Abducted MLA writes to CM for halt in combing

Two days after his abduction by the Naxals, BJD MLA from Laxmipur in south Orissa's Koraput district Jhina Hikaka has sent a letter from the hide-out of the ultras to the party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, urging him to cease combing operations and release the jailed Red rebels and activists of banned outfit, Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh.

In a parallel development, the Andhra-Orissa Border Zonal Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist) group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of the legislator.

The committee has also written to the Chief Minister, pressing for fulfillment of demands of the Naxals.

The demands include stopping of Operation Green Hunt and release of all arrested political prisoners and leaders of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh. Following fulfillment of these two demands, the Naxals will announce the date of release of the abducted MLA, the letter said.

The ultras have also urged Patnaik to meet all the demands promised at the time of release of former Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna. It may be recalled that Krishna along with junior engineer Pabitra Majhi was kidnapped by the Naxals in February last year. The state government after talks with the Naxal appointed interlocutors had then agreed to concede to six demands.

These demands included providing justice to the displaced persons of Nalco's project at Damanjodi in Koraput district, immediate end to Operation Green Hunt, release of tribals and Chasi Mulia workers in Koraput and Malkangiri jails, payment of compensation to the farmers of the cut-off and submerged areas the Balimela reservoir, tracing the whereabouts of a tirbal named Sitanna who was allegedly taken away by the police from Narayanapatnam and release of Central committee member Ashutosh Sen and other members Sriramulu Srinivas, Gananayak, Jeevan Bose, Ganti Prasadam, Sirisha, Eswari, Sarita and truck drivers lodged in Malkangiri jail.