Bhubaneswar: As the deadline set by the abductors of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka and Italian tour guide Paolo Bosusco ends on Tuesday, the chances of an early solution to the twin hostage crises in Odisha appeared to have receded with both the Maoist groups placing new conditions for the duo’s release from captivity.
While the release of Italian Paolo Bosusco became uncertain with the Maoists asking the state government to ‘clarify’ how many ultras would be freed, another group of Naxals holding Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage also wanted immediate release of 30 people.
A day after the Maoist group holding the 37-year-old MLA hostage asked his wife to reach a village in Koraput district on Tuesday along with 30 freed prisoners for release of Hikaka, the state government on Monday remained tight-lipped on the issue. In a letter released last night to the media, the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of the Maoists not only sought an immediate release of more number of prisoners, but also their physical presence for the MLA’s release.
The ultras wanted Hikaka’s wife Kaushalya to reach Balipeta in the Naxal-hit Narayanpatna area on Tuesday along with 30 rebels, including 23 people whose release the Odisha government had decided to facilitate and seven more rebels.
The letter, bearing the name of a senior Maoist leader and addressed to the media, said the MLA’s wife should also be accompanied by two Naxal-nominated mediators – B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty – engaged in the Italian hostage crisis and Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik. (PTI)
One of the Maoist-nominated mediators B D Sharma had meanwhile left the state capital for Delhi. The Maoists said they would hand over the abducted MLA to them, provided they do not bring along any police or intelligence official.
The letter came a day after the Maoists extended the deadline for fulfilment of their demands till April 10. They had initially fixed April 5 as deadline and then extended it till April 7. (PTI)