The Orissa government on Thursday announced names of 27 prisoners to be set free for securing release of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka and Italian national Basusco Paolo held hostages by the Maoists since last month.
Twenty-three persons, including 15 members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, will be released in response to the demands made by the Srikakulam-Koraput Divisional Committee (SKDC) that kidnapped the MLA on March 24 night.
Similarly, four others will be set free as “requested” by the Maoist interlocutors for release the Italian national Basusco Paolo. Mr Paolo, who was abducted on March 14 along with compatriot Claudio Colangelo, is being held captive by the Ghumusar-Kandhamal Divisional Committee led by top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. Earlier, the rebels had released Colangelo as a “goodwill gesture.”
The eight Maoists to be swapped for the MLA’s freedom are Narsi Kendruka, Joruka Kendruka, Deba Madhi, Ganga Sodi, Bhima Padiami, Mangaraj Darua, Murla Neelam Reddy and Setu Pangi. “The last two persons — Murla Neelam Reddy and Setu Pangi — are from Andhra Pradesh and are married to each other,” chief minister Naveen Patnaik informed, while announcing the names in the state Assembly in the evening.
The CMAS members to be released include Rupuni Sirika, Miniaka Sandal, Saura Kartasiya, Nachika Suba, Wadeka Diba, Rabi Tadingi, Dhana Hantal, Dora Hantal, Ramesh Nachika, Huluku Kesaba, Ina Tadingi, Rupana Huluka, Argu Sirika and Bijaya Tadingi.
The four persons who will be set free for release of Paolo are Arati Majhi, Suka Nachika, Chakra Tadingi and Subhashree Das, wife of top Naxal Sabyasachi Panda.
Panda, apart from leading the Ghumusar-Kandhmal unit of the Maoists, is the secretary of the Orissa State Organising Committee of the CPI-Maoist party.
“In view of this announcement, the state government will take the necessary legal steps for facilitating the release of the total 27 persons. The state government made this gesture on humane grounds. I do hope that the Maoists will reciprocate in a similar spirit and release the MLA and the Italian national immediately,” the chief minister said.
There were no immediate reactions from the SKDC leaders. However, Mr Dandapani Mohanty, who along with B.D. Sharma, acted as interlocutor for securing release of Mr Paolo said, “Since we have not yet got any official communication from the government, we cannot make any comments.”