A ray of hope for release of the ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka from the Maoist captivity emerged on Tuesday as the state government said it would seriously consider the demands of the rebels if the legislator was freed by 5 pm on Wednesday.
“If the MLA is released by 5 pm tomorrow, the state government will seriously consider their demand to release the 29 prisoners as demanded by them,” panchayati raj secretary Pradip Jena told reporters here on Tuesday evening.
Mr Jena informed that the government had already moved bail petitions of five of the six Maoists whose release was sought after the deal was struck for setting 23 prisoners free.
The first list of the 23 persons, which the government had agreed to release, Mr Jena said had to move their bail petitions.
However, there was no immediate response from the Maoists.
Earlier in the morning, the Maoists issued a fresh audio-tape asking the Orissa government to “clearly spell out” by 5 pm about the steps taken by it to free 29 prisoners as demanded by them.
Maoist leader Aruna of Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) said in the tape that the state government must make its stand clear if it was really interested for the freedom of the 37-year-old legislator.
The ultras are holding the MLA hostage since March 24.
The rebels warned that if the state government dithered on the issue, it would be held responsible for the “consequences.”
While the Maoists insisting on drop of cases against the prisoners and seeking the government to facilitate their release through its public prosecutors, the administration on the other hand maintains that the detainees must move bail petitions in the court.
In another development, chief minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters in New Delhi that state chief secretary B.K. Patnaik had talked to the kidnapped MLA over telephone and the legislator said he was fine.
Similarly, Mr Nihar Patnaik, the counsel for the imprisoned Maoists and members of the rebel-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, said the government should give a clear message by saying it had agreed in principle to release the prisoners on its own or not.
“I spoke to the MLA in the captivity. He is all alright but bit worried. The new message from ultras should be considered as an ultimatum as I feel they would not wait further,” he said.
The Maoists have fixed 5 PM Wednesday as the deadline for fulfillment of their demands.