Abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka will be released by 10 am on Thursday. This was informed by Maoist leader Aruna on Wednesday.
The rebel leader, who represents Andhra-Orissa border special zonal committee (AOBSZC), said the decision to set the MLA free was taken in a praja court held in the jungles of Narayanpatna. The praja court was held for two days on Monday and Tuesday where the MLA “admitted” that he had failed to address the plights of the tribal communities.
“During the hearing in the praja court, the MLA said he had failed to stop the anti-Maoist Green Hunt Operation in Koraput district and put pressure on the government to release the innocent tribals who had been thrown into prison cells on false charges. The MLA told the court that he would resign from his post and prefer to live as an ordinary person if failed to fulfil the demands of his people,” Aruna told reporters over telephone.
The lady rebel leader stated that the MLA had signed an agreement in the praja court to put pressure on the Naveen Patnaik government to fulfil major demands of the tribals within a stipulated period and make endeavours to stop the police atrocities on innocent people in the region.
“The MLA has given a written undertaking that if he fails to fulfil all the demands of the tribals, he would resign from his Assembly membership as well as from the ruling BJD,” Ms Aruna said.
Stating that the legislator vented his discontentment in the praja court over “the state government’s non-seriousness to secure his release,” the Maoist leader said a audio tape of the kangaroo court would be released on Thursday.
“We have intimated the matter to Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Patnaik and the Jhina Hikaka’s wife Kaushalya and asked them to come to Balipeta village under Narayanpatna police limit at around 10 am on Thursday to receive the MLA. No police or spy should accompany them,” she warned.
Asked if journalists were allowed to visit Balipeta, she replied in affirmative.
Aruna said the MLA was in good health.
The MLA was kidnapped on March 24 from Dayaput while returning to his Laxmipur home after attending a political meeting at Koraput.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik appeared relaxed after he got the news about the Maoists’ announcement to release the MLA. “Yes, I understand from the media report that the Maoist have announced to release the young MLA. The government would meet all the demands of the rebels it agreed to during the negotiation process,” the chief minister said.