Odisha govt yet to hear from kidnappers on MLA: Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said his government was yet to hear from the kidnappers of his party MLA and hoped they would get in touch soon for his release.

"We have got no response yet from the abductors of the MLA, Jhina Hikaka. I hope they will respond immediately and get in touch so that we can start discussion about his release," Patnaik told reporters at the state secretariat around the same time one of the two Italian hostages, Claudio Colangelo, was freed by the Maoists in Kandhamal district.

"I hope the MLA will be released immediately in perfect health and unharmed," the chief minister said, adding the legislator, who was abducted yesterday, was very popular and was known for good work in Koraput district and his constituency Laxmipur.

He said that Hikaka's family members were very concerned.

He was speaking after a meeting with officials to review the hostage crises.