Odisha hostage crisis: govt toughens stand

Bhubaneswar: As the deadline set by two Maoist groups in the twin hostage crisis ends today, the Odisha government seemed to have toughened its stance vis-a-vis their new demands. The pitch has been queered further by the threat of the state police to boycott anti-Naxal operations if hardcore ultras are freed by the government as per a deal to release BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka and Italian Paolo Bosusco. [caption id=“attachment_271265” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Home Secretary UN Behera said last night that the government has agreed to facilitate the release of 23 prisoners.”]  [/caption] The fresh demand made by the abductors of Hikaka is the immediate release of 30 prisoners in exchange for the MLA’s freedom, while the captors of Bosusco wanted a clarification on the number and names of rebels to be freed. The state government toughened its approach as it asked both Maoist groups to move bail pleas for quick release instead of seeking their immediate release and physical presence for executing the prisoner-hostage swap. Home Secretary UN Behera said last night that the government has agreed to facilitate the release of 23 persons, including 15 members of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), in exchange of MLA’s freedom. Since their release from jail involved a judicial process of getting bails from courts concerned, the detainees have to file bail applications, said Behera, who had led the three-member government side in talks with Maoist-named mediators for release of Bosusco. On the Maoists’ suggestion that the MLA’s wife should go to Balipeta village in Koraput district with the detainees of CMAS and CPI (Maoist) for hand-over of Hikaka, Behera said, “It is advised that steps be taken on behalf of the 23 detainees to file their bail petitions.” The home secretary said bail petitions in respect of those who are to be released from jail for Italian’s freedom may also be filed. Asserting that the government has given commitment on release of prisoners for freedom of both the MLA and the Italian, he said, “We hope the captors will release the two hostages immediately, unharmed and in good health.” On the abductors of Bosusco asking the government to clarify how many ultras it would free, Behera said it appears that the contents of the joint statement, signed by the government representatives and the Maoist mediators, had not reached Sabyasachi Panda, secretary of the Odisha State Organising Committee of Maoists. The state government asked Maoist-named mediators B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty to send a copy of the joint statement to Panda so that any confusion that he has can be cleared and Bosusco be released. The government had earlier sought opinion of the police on the kidnappers’ demand for the release of hardcore Maoists, including Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, accused in the killing of at least 55 police personnel. “We will oppose tooth and nail any move to free hardcore Maoists. If necessary, we will launch a vigorous agitation to prevent their release,” Odisha Police Association President Sawarmal Sharma told reporters. If the situation warrants, police personnel would be forced to pull out of anti-Maoist operations, Sharma said, adding sacrifices made by the police would go in vain and the force would be demoralised if hardcore ultras are freed. Sending a similar warning, Odisha Constable, Havildar and Sepoy Mahasangha said police personnel would boycott anti-Maoist operations if hardcore ultras are set free. “We have sought opinion of the police on whether the fresh demands made by the abductors of the MLA can be met,” Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters here, adding the legal aspects need to be verified before taking any decision. In a letter to the media, Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of Maoists not only sought immediate release of more prisoners, but also their presence for the MLA’s release. PTI