Bhubaneswar: Putting an end to the 32-day hostage crisis in Odisha, the Maoists on Thursday released Biju Janata Dal (MLA) Jhina Hikaka, as decided at a people's court of the Naxals on Wednesday.
The decision to release Hikaka was taken by the Maoists after he gave an undertaking that he would resign from the state assembly and also try to get their demands fulfilled.
Talking to mediapersons after his release, Hikaka said he was happy to be a free man, adding that he was treated well by the Maoists.
Hikaka, however, refused to say anything on the issue of his resignation.
According to sources, the MLA was abducted by the Naxals at the behest of tribal leader Nachika Linga of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh.
Sources said that Linga wanted the Laxmipur seat and got the MLA abducted to contest the elections.
And, this is the reason why Hikaka has been asked by the Naxals to resign as MLA.
Hikaka was abducted from Koraput district on March 24. In exchange Naxals made several demands including the release of 29 of their cadres. The government agreed to release 25.
However, the government refused to accept other demands like - complete halt of Operation Greenhunt and withdrawal of security forces from tribal areas.
Despite the government agreeing to release 25 arrested cadres, the Naxals had been changing their terms for the MLA's release.
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