With the Maoists unbending on their demands and determined to keep BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage till April 25, the Odisha government on Saturday said it would welcome anyone volunteering to negotiate with them.
"Right from the beginning, we have been requesting the CPI (Maoist) to name a negotiator for talks for release of the MLA. If anyone comes forward to negotiate, the government will welcome it," Home Secretary U. N. Behera told reporters here.
The statement came after the Maoist Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) said in a message that the fate of the MLA would be decided at a praja court by April 25. They decided to hold another praja court as the one conducted on Thursday failed to arrive at a decision.
There was no information where and when the next praja court would be held, Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, who fights cases for Maoists and its front Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, said.
"It has been decided to release 25 persons and withdraw cases against 13 of them. Five persons have so far been released from the jail," Behera said pointing out that only two days were left for completion of a month since Hikaka was abducted from Koraput district on March 24.