As confusion over the release of Hikaka continues, the MLA’s mother (right) has taken ill. (PTI)

Bhubaneswar, April 22: The Odisha government, which is still struggling to resolve the hostage crisis involving BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka, today asked all its field officers to take extra precautions in the wake of a district collector’s abduction in Chhattisgarh.

Sources said the Odisha home department had issued instructions that field officers, including the district collectors, should not move out without proper security. “Given the degree of their vulnerability, they have been asked to take all precautions,” said Odisha home secretary U.N. Behera.

The latest instructions went out even as top bureaucrats spent another frustrating day trying to establish a channel of communication with Maoists, who have been holding Hikaka hostage since March 24.

Anxiety mounted as reports from Koraput, the legislator’s home district, said his ageing mother, Ruse Hikaka, had been taken seriously ill and was being attended to by doctors.

“She has low blood pressure. She has become extremely weak as she has been eating little since her son was taken hostage. She has been put on saline,” said Kaushalya, wife of the MLA.

The signs of frustration among the family members are becoming increasingly evident even though they continue to put their faith in the government. “It has been too long. What is worse is that the rebels have been making new demands making the government’s task difficult. We only hope they won’t harm him and release him soon,” said a family member.

In Bhubaneswar, Behera issued a fresh appeal to the rebels to set free the 38-year-old lawmaker who was abducted from Toyapet area near Laxmipur nearly a month ago. He said that while five Maoists and rebel-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh members had already been granted bail, steps for withdrawal of cases against 13 of them had been initiated.

The rebels had initially adopted a tough posture on the bail issue saying none of their jailed colleagues would apply for bail as this put them at the mercy of the lawyers, who exploited them. They had asked the government to unilaterally withdraw cases against the detainees to ensure their unconditional release.

The government, however, maintained that bail, being a legal procedure, had to be applied for and only then could steps be initiated for withdrawal of cases against the Maoists and Sangh members, whose release the rebels were demanding.

The rebel leadership has also accused the Odisha government of adopting dilatory tactics, so that it could explore other ways of releasing the MLA from their captivity.

The Maoists have gone to the extent of describing the petition filed in the Supreme Court on the hostage issue as a government conspiracy.

In another development, there appears to be growing concern in the official circles over the latest trend of kidnappings by the Maoists. “They seem to have discovered a new weapon to be used against the state. But, the government, if it succumbs to them time and again, would be seen as weak. This is not a good sign,” said a senior officer not willing to be quoted.