Bhubaneswar, April 1: A group of BJD MLAs has sought divine intervention to rescue their colleague, Jhina Hikaka, from the clutches of the Maoists.

Seven legislators today organised a yajna (fire sacrifice) at the Ugra Tara shrine near Bhushandpur, about 60km from here, invoking the deity’s blessings to secure release of the 35-year-old Laxmipur MLA, who was taken hostage by the rebels on March 24.

Sources said BJD-backed Khurda MLA Rajendra Sahu took the lead in organising the event. Tribal MLA from Phulbani Debendra Kanhar, Ranpur legislator Satyanaryan Pradhan, Dasapalla MLA Kashinath Mallick and Keonjhar MLA Subrana Nayak joined Sahu.

Later, Jatani MLA Bibhuti Bawantray and the legislator from Balikuda-Erasama, Prasanta Muduli, too, arrived at the spot and sought the deity’s blessings.

Muduli said: “We prayed to the deity for the MLA’s release. Hope she listens to our prayers.”

His feelings were mirrored by most of his party colleagues even as frustration appeared to be creeping into Hikaka’s wife Kaushalaya, who has been eating little since he was abducted by a group of 80 gun-toting rebels from near Toyaput village in Koraput.

“My husband has been in the Maoists’ custody for over a week now. I am beginning to lose confidence in the government,” said Kaushalaya while reiterating her appeal to the rebels to release her husband.

On the other hand, the tribal people from Laxmipur, Hikaka’s constituency, today decided to take the initiative for their leader’s release. Sources said the Maoists were being forced to carry the legislator on a cot because of the condition of his swollen legs.

On the other hand, Italian tour operator Paolo Bosusco, who was taken captive by another group of Maoists led by Sabyasachi Panda on March 14, is also reported to be sick. Apart from the rough terrain of Kandhamal, where he is being held, Bosusco appears to be missing the company of his compatriot, Claudio Colangelo, whom the rebels had released last Sunday as a goodwill gesture.

Talks for the release of Bosusco have been on hold for the past four days with the state government taking time to examine the demands that the rebels have put forward through their mediators, Jan Adhikar Manch convenor Dandpani Mohanty and forest rights activist B.D. Sharma. The mediators, too, appear to be unhappy with the delay in the resolution of the crisis.