The letter received from Jhina Hikaka. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 3: Maoists today set April 5 deadline for the state government to meet their demands for release of abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka even as a letter, purportedly written by the law-maker, had accused the chief minister of letting his fate hang in the balance as he happened to be a tribal.

The deadline was conveyed through an audio message from a rebel leader, who identified himself as Chadramouli, secretary of the CPI (Maoist) Andhra-Odisha Border special zonal committee.

The rebel leader demanded release of members and leaders of the Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh languishing in the jails of Koraput and Malkangiri after being implicated in false cases.

“We assure the government that our friends will not cause any law and order problem after being released. We hope the government will treat this with sympathy,” the Maoists conveyed through the audio message while reiterating that they were not in favour of negotiating with the government through mediators.

“There have been proposals for the appointment of mediators. We have already made it clear we will not involve any mediators. We condemn the delay caused by the government’s insistence on mediators,” the message said, adding that it was up to the state government to meet the rebel demands by April 5 and secure the MLA’s release.

The audio-tape was supplemented by a letter from the CPI (Maoist) Andhra-Odisha Border special zonal committee member Jagbandhu, who alleged that the government was yet to honour the agreement it struck with the rebel-chosen mediators in the wake of former Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna’s abduction last year. “The MLA cannot be set free until all the political prisoners in the jails of Koraput and Malkangiri are released,” the letter warned.

On the other hand, the kidnapped MLA, in his letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik, said that though he was safe till now, the government had not done enough to secure his release. Stating that the rebels would release him only if the innocent tribals lodged in jails on the charge of being Maoists were set free, Hikaka, who was kidnapped on March 24, lamented the delay in the resolution of the crisis. He even threatened to resign.

“The issue of my safety is not being taken seriously as I happen to be a tribal. Hence, the issue be settled expeditiously or I will not be able to work for the development of my constituency. I may even be forced to resign,” he said, making his anguish clear.

Sources said resentment among the tribals in Laxmipur, Hikaka’s constituency, was mounting as his wife and mother have stopped taking food. BJD MP from Koraput Jairam Pangi, himself a tribal, today visited Hikaka’s house, assuring his family members that the government was doing its best to secure his release. The issue also figured today in the Assembly with the members expressing concern over the MLA’s fate and sought a statement from the government in this regard.

In another development, talks for release of Italian tour operator Paolo Bosusco, being held in the forests of Kandhamal by another faction of the Maoists led by Sabyasachi Panda, remained suspended today after having resumed last night following a gap of three days. Talks were held inconclusively yesterday after an audio-cassette, released by Panda, warned the government against trying to buy time saying this might endanger the life of the Italian national. Official sources here said that talks might resume tomorrow.

Panda, secretary of the Odisha state organising committee of the Maoists, is seeking release of seven top-rebel leaders and sympathisers, including Gananath Patra, Subhashree Das, Arati Majhi, Kamalakant Sethi, Sujata Kudraka, Subha Nachika and Sudarshan Mandal.

The twin kidnappings have forced some of the district administrations to bar foreigners from visiting the tribal habitations in their areas. While Rayagada was the first district to impose restrictions, now Koraput has followed suit.