Odisha CM speaks to abducted MLA's wife

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday spoke to the wife of abducted Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka and assured her of all possible steps by the government for securing the release of her husband.

"I spoke to Kaushalya, wife of the abducted MLA, and assured her that we will do everything possible for the release of her young husband," Patnaik told reporters.

She was also told that two ministers would be visiting her soon, the chief minister said.

The BJD MLA was on Saturday abducted by Maoists when he was returning to his home at Laxmipur after attending a political meeting at Koraput at around 1am.

More than 50 armed rebels stopped his vehicle near Toyaput where the road had been dug up and a truck blocked the road.

While the personal security officer (PSO) and driver of the MLA were allowed to leave by the ultras who snatched away their mobile phones, Hikaka was taken away into the nearby forest, about 40km from Bhubaneswar at gunpoint.

The abduction of the tribal MLA has added to the problems of the Odisha government which is trying to resolve the 10-day-old Italian hostage crisis.

The incident happened hours after Patnaik appealed to the rebels to desist from violence.