The trade off: MLA to quit post and party, govt to facilitate release of 23 rebels
The Red rebels finally released Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka unharmed at a village in Koraput district after holding him hostage for 33 days on condition that he would resign as a legislator.
Hikaka, the ruling party MLA from Laxmipur in Koraput district reached Balipeta village under Narayanpatna block at 10.30 am with a crowd of villagers.
After his release, Hikaka said, “I am free now. I am in good health. I was treated quite well and not tortured.”
He, however, did not say anything on his commitment before a praja court, where he was produced by his abductors, that he would resign as MLA after being freed and said, “Everybody would know about the development at the praja court at appropriate time.”
Commenting on the MLA’s release, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “I am very happy that the young MLA has been released and will be joining his family. Two weeks back, I was with his family. His mother was extremely distressed. The MLA’s wife and children were also in great distress and were anxious. It has been 34 long days since his abduction. I am sure that the entire state must be extremely relieved that the young MLA has been released.”
Pradeep Amat, speaker of the Odisha legislative assembly said, “We are happy that the MLA has been released safely, unharmed and in good health.”
On Wednesday, speaking on behalf of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoists), rebel leader Aruna had said in an audio tape that Hikaka would be handed over to his wife Kaushalya Majhi and Nihar Patnaik, lawyer for the Naxal backed banned outfit Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), at Balipeta village at 10 am on Thursday.
In the tape, the rebels had agreed to release their hostage on an undertaking from him that he will resign as an MLA and snap all ties with the BJD and will then work for the tribals in his area.
Hikaka was kidnapped by the Naxals from his home district-Koraput on March 24. Thereafter, the ultras had demanded that 23 of their sympathisers lodged in various jails in Odisha be released in exchange for the MLA’s freedom.
U N Behera, the state home secretary said, “The state government has withdrawn cases against 13 jailed persons, both Naxals and activists of CMAS. Seven CMAS activists have applied for bail and we are facilitating their release.”
The 13 prisoners against whom the state government has withdrawn cases include eight Naxals and five activists of CMAS, sources said. The bail plea of five persons has been accepted. While the CMAS activists were arrested in connection with the attack on Narayanpatna police station in November 2009, the jailed Naxals were facing charges of insurgency.
The chief minister had announced in the state assembly on April 5 that his government will facilitate the release of 23 persons to secure the release of the abducted MLA . This included eight members of the CPI (Maoists) and eight members of CMAS.
The eight members of CPI (Maoists) are Narsi Kendruka, Joruka Kendruka, Deba Majhi, Ganga Sodi, Bhima adiami, Mangaraj Darua, Murla Neelam Reddy and Setu Pangi.
Similarly, the 15 members of CMAS whose release will be facilitated by the state government include Rupuni Sirika, Miniaka sandal, Miniaka Jama, Saura Karasiya, Nachika Suba, Wadeka Diba, Rabi Tadingi, Dhana Hantal, Dora Hantal, Ramesh Nachika, Huluku Kesaba, Ina Tadingi, Rupana Huluka, Argu Sirika and Bijay Tadingi. Earlier, the government had also agreed to facilitate release of four persons - Arati Majhi, Suka Nachika, Chakra Tadingi and Subhashree Das, alias Mili Panda, the wife of Sabyasachi Panda, secretary of the Orissa state organizing committee of the CPI (Maoists) to facilitate release of two Italians who were abducted by another group of Naxals led by Sabyasachi Panda last month.
