SC sends notice to Centre and Odisha government over releasing Naxals

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Odisha government and the Centre on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filled by a retired army officer, Major General (retd) Gangurdep Bakshi seeking to confine the state from releasing Naxals in exchange of safely freeing the captive BJD MLA.

In its notices, the apex court has asked the governments to clear their stand on what it is doing about the hostage.

Major General (retd) Gangurdep Bakshi, a counter-terrorism operations expert on Wednesday approached the apex court urging the court the hear his petition on priority basis as the deadline set by the Naxals would come to an end at 5pm on Wednesday and to restrain the state government from meeting Maoists' demands.

In his petition, Bakshi has argued that releasing hardcore 29 naxalalites would hurt the moral of the soldiers who put their lives on edge for capturing dangerous fundamentalists.

A bench of justices TS Thakur and Gyan Sudha Misra however became agree to hear the plea but scolded Bakshi to fill the petition so late.

"You can't come at the eleventh hour and plead for urgent hearing," the bench said.

The apex court further said it would require the help of the Centre's law officer in the matter and listed the matter for hearing on Thursday.

The deadline given by Maoists for releasing to Hikaka ended on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. but they did not release him as they have expressed doubts over government's intension over releasing the announced Maoists and tribal leaders.

They (Maoists) have now threatened to present Jhina Hikaka before the praja court (people's court) for deciding the fate over Hikaka's release.

According to a senior government officer, the pressure is not only on government but also on abductors too, as they have kidnapped a tribal leader.

Keeping him under abduction for long time can be proved riskier for them too, the official added.

--With Agencies Inputs--