Hours before the deadline set by Naxals for release of their jailed members in exchange of an abducted Orissa MLA, a retired Army officer on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court to restrain the state government from meeting Maoists' demands.
Major General (retd) Gangurdep Bakshi pleaded with the apex court that the state government should be restrained from releasing the Naxals as they were captured by security forces, which had to put their lives on stake to nab them.
Bakshi, a counter-terrorism operations expert, submitted that his petition be given urgent hearing as the deadline set by the Naxals would come to an end today at 5 pm.
Agreeing to hear his plea, a bench of justices T.S. Thakur and Gyan Sudha Misra, however, pulled up Bakshi for moving the court so late.
"You can't come at the eleventh hour and plead for urgent hearing," the bench said. The apex court further said it would require the help of the Centre's law officer in the matter and listed the matter for hearing on Thursday.