Odisha MLA, Italian Kidnap: Govt Offers Release of 27 Prisoners
posted on Apr 5, 2012 @ 10:05AM
A day before the deadline 5 April set by the maoists, the Odisha government has offered to release 27 maoist prisoners from its jails in exchange for the abducted BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka as well as Italian Bosusco Paolo.
Shortly after a crucial cabinet meeting, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said in assembly, "Considering the safety of Jhina Hikaka, the young MLA of Laxmipur, it has been decided by the state government to facilitate the release of 15 members of the Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangha and eight Left-wing extremists in Koraput and Malkangiri jails." Eight Maoists and 15 activists of the Sangha are being offered for a swap for Hikaka's freedom while four Maoists will be freed for the safe passage of Paolo.
The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) had demanded the release of all "political prisoners" (around 70) in jails of Koraput and Malkangiri districts for Hikaka's release. The state's offer to free eight Maoists came hours after the government resumed talks with Maoist-named mediators B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty for freeing Paolo, who was kidnapped along with his compatriot Claudio Colangelo on March 14. While Colangelo was released on March 25, Paolo has been held captive by the insurgents for nearly three weeks. The names of the prisoners to be released will be announced today.