Maoists release BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka after 33 days

BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka on April 26 walked to freedom, escorted by a group of tribals, after 33 days in Maoist captivity in Odisha's Koraput district.

The 37-year-old Laxmipur MLA was freed at Balipeta in the Maoist hot-bed of Narayanpatna in the district where a Maoist praja (people's) court had decided to release.

Clad in a green kurta and pajama, the tribal leader was handed over by the tribals to his wife, Kaushalya Majhi, and a lawyer who fights cases for the ultras and their frontal organisations, Nihar Ranjan Patnaik.

"I was treated quite well and not tortured, " Hikaka said shaking hands with the lawyer.

Looking cheerful after his gruelling ordeal, Hikaka said, "I am free now. I am in good health."

The legislator said he ate the same food as the Maoists who moved him from one place to another at least thrice during his captivity. The MLA had reportedly told the praja court held on April 23 and 24 that he would resign as MLA, snap all ties with BJD and live as an ordinary citizen and work for the people.

His relieved wife, Kaushalya said, "I am thankful to the tribals and the media for their support. I was very anxious to see my husband."

The release of Hikaka, who had been abducted in the early hours of March 24 in Koraput district, was officially confirmed here by Home Secretary UN Behera.

"The MLA has been freed by the Maoists," he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "We are extremely happy and glad that Hikaka is free and reunited with his family members who were in a state of distress."

A medical team, which was present at Balipeta, examined the legislator, before he proceeded to Koraput en-route to his home at Laxmipur, where his mother, two sons and other family members were waiting.

According to the Maoist Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) which had held him hostage, the tribal MLA had given a written undertaking that he would resign from the state Assembly and from the BJD and work for the people.

The tribals, who escorted Hikaka, also played an audio tape in which the MLA purportedly told the praja court that he had failed as a people's representative after being elected three years ago and that he would quit as a legislator after being released.

Hikaka was, however, non-committal on quitting as MLA and the party and said, "You will know about it in due course."

Categorically asked whether he would put in his papers, Hikaka said a praja court was not a platform to resign.

The MLA said his release was possible because of support from the tribals and the media and his own efforts.

The MLA side-stepped questions about the praja court proceedings, saying its specific decisions would be shared later as he was not mentally prepared to give a detailed account at the moment.

Soon after Hikaka's release, Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Ramdhun was played in the Odisha Assembly and Chief Minister's office at the state secretariat here.

"We are happy that the tribal MLA from Laxmipur was released in a peaceful and non-violent manner by the Maoists," Assembly Speaker Pradip Amat said.

Ramdhun was played for about two-and-a-half hours at both the places, the Speaker said. Ramdhun was also played in Koraput, the MLA's home district, after his release.

Apart from Hikaka's abduction, another Maoist group, Odisha State Organising Committee, had kidnapped two Italian nationals Claudio Colangelo and Paolo Bosusco on March 14 in Kandhamal district.

While Colangelo was released on March 25, Bosusco was freed on April 12.

The twin hostage crisis took place about a year after the then Malkangiri district collector R Vineel Krishna was abducted by Maoists in February, 2011 while attending a development programme in Naxal-hit Chitrakonda area of the tribal-dominated district.