Bhubaneswar: Odisha's abducted MLA Jhina Hikaka, will be tried in people's court (praja court) on April 25, the Maoists said in a fresh message on Friday dismissing the rumours about the release of the MLA.

 

In a message to media, Maoists said that Hikaka would not be released on Friday, he will be tried in people's court next week.

The Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik on Thursday informed that Hikaka was produced before the praja court.

The fate of the Laxmipur MLA will be decided in the court. The Odisha government has been appealing the Maoists to release Hikaka bowing its head to the rebels' demands.

Even though, the Odisha government agreed to release 13 Maoists in exchange of Hikaka's release, the Maoists are adamant on their demands to release 29 jailed rebels.

The state government on Thursday said that seven jailed rebels have already filed their bail petitions and four of them have been granted bail. It also said two more detainees are also likely to be released soon.

Analysts said that the rebels will not kill the 37-year-old legislator as he is a tribal leader. But he may be asked to resign from the assembly.

Hikaka was abducted by the Maoists of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) on March 24 from Koraput district.

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