Bhubaneswar, April 7 (IANS) Extending their deadline to Tuesday, Maoists holding Biju Janata Dal legislator Jhina Hikaka Saturday demanded unconditional release of five more people from Odisha jails in order to secure his release.
The response from the rebels came two days after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the names of 27 people, including eight Maoists, to be released in exchange for the lawmaker and an Italian.
'Jagabandhu', who claimed himself as a leader of the Andhra-Odisha border special zonal committee, in an audio message to some journalists said the government must release five more people in addition to the 27.
The rebel leader also named the people to be released unconditionally by the government. "We have extended the deadline to April 10. If they are not released the government will see our next step," he said.
The rebels, who abducted Hikaka from Koraput district on March 24, had earlier set a Saturday evening deadline for the government to decide on their demands.
The rebel leader also added that the health of the legislator is good and "will remain good until April 10".
Italian tour operator Bosusco Paolo has been held hostage since March 14 by another group of rebels.
The group, led by Sabyasachi Panda, had earlier threatened to take an "extreme step" if the government does not release more people by Tuesday. Panda had made the announcement Friday in an audio message which was aired by some local television channels.
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Comments:
ANJAN KUMAR SAMAL
April 7, 2012 at 8:00 PM
MAKING FREE BENDING DOWN IN FRONT OF LAW BREAKERS.Shame to Mr. Navven Pattnayak for repeating the history of taking wrong steps to make free the threats of Nation's peace,security and sovereignty.The same Cowardly step taken to free the dreaded terrorists at the regime of vajpayee Govt. who is now one of the biggest threat to our Nation's Peace security.
Bending down in front of Naxals like culprits and obeying each and every demand of Naxal leader is purely a heart breaker to the security forces who did capture these Naxals after so many blood battles.
Allowing foreign tourists into the banned tribal areas is the 1st unforgivable administrative fault of the Naveen Pattnayak Govt.Depending upon some close state BJD leaders blindly and functioning the state administrative with a non serious attitudes led this unforgettable NAXAL MENACE IN FRONT OF US.
AGREEING with all the demands at 1st mutual understandings the BJD government offered another chance of demands to be made by these Moist leaders.