Bhubaneswar, April 23: The state government today sought to assure one and all that no efforts were being spared for the release of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka, who completed a month in Maoist captivity.

“Steps have been taken for the release of the Maoists and the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh leaders, whom the rebels wanted freed from jails. We are doing our best,” said home secretary U.N. Behera following a fresh review of the situation on the hostage front.

Significantly, Behera’s statement came soon after chief minister Naveen Patnaik received a call from his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh, who is facing a similar situation in his state following the abduction of Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon. Sources said Singh sought Odisha chief minister’s advice in dealing with the crisis confronting him.

In yet another development, Maoist leader Arati Majhi was today granted bail in two cases by a local court in Parlakhemundi, about 600km from here. Sources said six others, some of them Maoist sympathisers, also got bail.

The Maoists have set April 25 as deadline for the government to meet their demands. It includes the release of 29 persons, many of whom are Sangh members. Many contentious issues are yet to be resolved by the Maoists and the government. The most important of these is the unwillingness of the rebels and the Sangh activists to apply for bail though some of them have done so during the last week.

The director-general of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Rajeev, today visited Damanjodi in Koraput district to review the security situation. Sources said the review had become imperative in the backdrop of an attack on a CISF patrolling party in Damanjodi on Friday. Two jawans of the force had sustained injuries in the attack. In April 2009, the rebels had gunned down 10 CISF jawans on the Panchpatmali hills in Koraput district.

On the other hand, BJD MLAs belonging to the undivided Koraput district today met in Bhubaneswar and discussed the situation arising out of the kidnapping of Hikaka on March 24. The meeting was attended by two ministers — Lal Behari Himirika and Ramesh Majhi — among others.

Subhashree Das alias Milli Panda, wife of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, today condemned the spate of kidnappings by the rebels while calling for continuous talks between the governments and the radicals.