Jhina Hikaka and UN Behera

Bhubaneswar, April 18: Maoists today accused the state government of dragging its feet on their demands and said the fate of abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka would now be decided in the people’s court.

In a statement issued on behalf of the CPI (Maoist) Odisha-Andhra special border zonal committee, rebel leader Aruna rejected to the government’s stand on their demand for the 29 detainees, including some Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh leaders.

Alleging that officialdom was resorting to dilatory tactics, the Maoist leader said there would be no further extension of the deadline that expired today and the MLA would be tried in the praja court (people’s court), a kangaroo court of the rebels.

The rebels toughened their stand on a day when two Maoist-backed Sangh activists walked out of jail after being granted bail while another two are expected to be set free tomorrow.

While Sangh members, Arugu Sirka and Rupuna Huluka, were released from jail following bail, two other activists, Dora Hantal and Dhan Hantal, were also granted bail, but would have to wait for release till tomorrow as the court orders could not reach the prisons where they are lodged.

Official sources said Wadeka Kadika and Nachhika Suba, who also belong to the Sangh, were also issued bail in one case, but they would continue to be in jail in connection with another case in which they are yet to get bail.

In Bhubaneswar, home secretary U.N. Behera said the government had also decided to withdraw cases against 13 people, including Arugu Sirka, Rupuna Huluka, Dora Hantal and Dhan Hantal. The others in this list are Wadeka Kadika, Nachhika Suba, Setu Pangi, Mula Nilam Reddy, Rabi Tadingi, Duluka Keshab Reddy, Deba Madhi, Ganga Sodi and Bhima Podiami.

“As of now the state government has decided to withdraw the prosecution of cases against 13 people. Appropriate action will be taken in this regard considering all aspects of law,” said Behera, reiterating his appeal to the rebels to release the MLA, who was taken captive on March 24.

However, the government’s conciliatory gesture appears to have cut little ice with the Maoists holding the 38-year-old MLA as they categorically stated that they had lost faith in the administration.

“We don’t have any faith in the government,” said Aruna, whose latest statement came in the form of another audio message sent to some media houses.

“There is no point extending the deadline. The fate of Jhina Hikaka will be decided at a praja court. People will decide on him,” she said without specifying when the praja court would be held. However, sources close to Maoist lawyer Nihar Patnaik said the praja court would be held at an unspecified place in Koraput district tomorrow.

The Maoists have sought the release of 29 prisoners, mostly members of the Sangh, which is backed by them and spearheading a movement against anti-tribal landlords in parts of Koraput and Malkangiri districts.

Yesterday, the government had said that it would take steps to facilitate the release of 25 out of the 29 persons named by the Maoists and seriously consider withdrawal of prosecution in suitable cases, but only after the rebels released Hikaka unharmed.

Panchayati raj secretary Pradeep Jena, who sought to make it clear that the government would take into consideration the cases of only 25 persons, including eight Maoists and 17 Sangh activists, was categorical that steps for withdrawal of cases would be taken only when the rebels released the Laxmipur MLA.

Assuring that legal assistance would be provided for the release of 25 detainees. Jena had said: “If they release the MLA, then only steps would be taken for the withdrawal of the cases.”