Deadline for release of Odisha MLA extended till April 7 by Maoist’s
NEW DELHI: The deadline for the release of Odisha BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka’s and Italian citizen Basusco Paolo was extended till April 7 by Maoists on Thursday.
The Italian ambassador is in Bhubaneswar to meet chief minister Naveen Patnaik after the state government agreed to release 27 prisoners in exchange for Italian tourist Paolo Bosusco and Jhina Hikaka. MLA Hikaka was abducted on March 24 in Koraput district
Chief Minister Patnaik said, “Considering the safety of Jhina Hikaka, our young tribal MLA (of the BJD), our government has decided to facilitate the release of 15 members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha and also eight left-wing extremists now lodged in jails in Koraput and Malkangiri districts”.
Hikaka earlier write the government that he is safe but the government is “neglecting” his case because he is a tribal. “Because I am a tribal, I am being neglected. In such a situation I will not be able to work for my area and, if necessary, I will resign as MLA,” He said.
