After being in Maoists' captivity for over a month, Orissa BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka was released this morning.
The decision to release the legislator was confirmed yesterday by Aruna, a meber of the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoists). She said the people's court (praja court) held on April 23-24 had decided to free Hikaka.
In an audio message released on Wednesday, the rebels said, they had agreed to release their hostage on an undertaking from him that he would resign as an MLA.
Hikaka was kidnapped by the Naxals from his home district-Koraput on March 24. Thereafter, the outlawed extremists had demanded that 29 prisoners in Orissa jails be released in exchange for the MLA's freedom.
