Patnaik appeals to Maoists to release Hikaka 'immediately'

New Delhi: With the deadline for release of abducted MLA Jhina Hikaka coming to an end at 5 pm today, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has appealed to the Maoists to release him “immediately”. “I appeal to the Maoists who are holding this young MLA to release him safe…release him immediately in good health and unharmed,” Patnaik told reporters here. [caption id=“attachment_279740” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka. AFP”]  [/caption] He reiterated that the state government has already initiated the process for facilitating the bail for some of the detainees that the Maoists have demanded amongst the people that have announced, he said. The chief minister, who visited Hikaka’s family recently in Koraput, said the family members as well as the government was “very distressed” and anxious about the MLA. Patnaik’s appeal comes even as the state government had yesterday said that if the release of the tribal MLA takes place by 5 pm today, the government will seriously consider withdrawal of prosecution in suitable cases. Patnaik said that Hikaka has spoken to Chief Secretary BK Patnaik and Koraput district Collector JS Ramachandra yesterday and informed them that he was in good health. There was also a telephonic conversation between ruling BJD MP from Koraput, Jayaram Pangi and Hikaka. Having made its stand known, the state government is now waiting for a response from the Maoists who have been insisting on complete withdrawal of cases against the rebels. In view of the steps taken by the government and bails already granted to some prisoners, the abductors should release Hikaka immediately and unharmed, said a senior official. He said that two persons whom the Maoists want freed have been granted bail. While the Odisha High Court has allowed bail to Rupana Hulaka, a fast track court of Jeypore in Koraput district granted bail to Argu Sirika. Similarly, bail had been granted to three persons in one case each, he said adding the abductors should not have any doubt over the government’s intentions. However, uncertainty prevailed over the release of the BJD legislator as members of both the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) and CPI (Maoist) still seemed to be rigid in their demand for withdrawal of charges slapped against them instead of opting for the bail route. “I don’t know how the Maoists and CMAS members will react to the proposal of the state government. They have been very particular about withdrawal of cases,” said Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, who pleads cases for the rebels. Meanwhile, the abducted MLA’s wife Kaushalya expressed hope that the state government would take necessary steps to implement the announcement made by it regarding the release of prisoners in return for her husband’s freedom. She also made a fresh appeal to the Maoists to free Hikaka without causing any harm. The abductors had fixed 5 pm today as the deadline for fulfilment of their demands while dropping the name of Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, accused in the killing of 55 policemen, from the list of rebels sought to be freed. PTI