The Maoists holding ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage on Sunday extended the deadline for fulfilment of their demands till April 18.
In a message, a leader of Maoists' Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) set the new deadline of 5 p.m. of April 18 for release of 29 rebels, Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, a Koraput-based lawyer who fights cases for the Maoists, said.
The Maoists, who had earlier demanded release of 30 prisoners to free the tribal MLA, have also omitted the name of Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, accused of killing at least 55 police personnel, from the list, he said.
The demand for release of Ghasi had drawn protest from different quarters including the police force with Odisha Police Association (OPA) threatening to boycott anti-naxal operations if hardcore Maoists like him were freed to secure the release of the 37-year-old Laxmipur legislator.
The abductors, however, stuck to their condition of a prisoner-hostage exchange. They want the abducted MLA's wife, Kaushalya and the lawyer to accompany the 29 freed rebels to release Hikaka, Patnaik said.
The message about extension of deadline was the first communication from the MLA's abductors in the last four days.
The Odisha government was yet to respond to the fresh message from the Maoists. "We have come to know about it from the media. It needs to be examined," a senior official said. Hikaka, who was abducted by Maoists on March 24 in Koraput, continues to be in their captivity.
Two Italians, abducted by a separate naxal group on March 14 in Kandhamal, have been set free.