It has been decided to take steps for withdrawal of prosecution against 13 persons following the due process of law, UN Behera said.
Bowing to demand by Maoists that it withdraw cases against 13 prisoners for the freedom of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka, the Odisha government on Wednesday announced that it was agreeable to do so after expiry of the deadline set by the ultras at 5:00 pm.
"It has been decided to take steps for withdrawal of prosecution against 13 persons following the due process of law," Home Secretary UN Behera told reporters shortly afterwards.
The thirteen include five Maoists.
Earlier after expiry of the ultimatum, in a fresh message to the media, a leader of CPI (Maoist) Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) said it had no faith in the state government and the fate of the 37-year-old tribal MLA from Laxmipur would be decided by a people's court.
The message said the deadline had been extended four times in the past and there would be no further extension.
A Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, who fights cases of Maoists and their frontal organisation, said the praja court was likely to be held on Thursday and time and venue would be decided later.
The Maoists had demanded that cases of those to be released should be withdrawn and had declined to seek bail.
The ultras had dropped the name of Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, accused in the killing of 55 policemen, from the list of rebels sought to be freed in exchange for the legislator who was kidnapped on March 24 from Koraput district.
They wanted the lawyer and the MLA's wife Kaushalya to accompany the freed rebels to Balipeta to Narayanpatna area in Koraput district for a hostage-prisoner exchange.
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