Author: Debabrata Mohanty
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: March 25, 2012
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoists-abduct-tribal-orissa-mla-who-boldly-took-them-on/928059/0

Even as negotiations were on to secure the release of the two Italians abducted in Kandhamal 10 days ago, the Maoists struck again in Koraput early this morning, abducting BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka, a first-time tribal MLA from Koya community representing Laxmipur constituency which includes the Maoist bastion of Narayanpatna.

Following the incident, the two interlocutors picked by the Maoists, B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty, today suspended their negotiations with the state government. Saying the latest abduction was a “mockery of the peaceful talks and the ceasefire agreement,” they appealed to the Maoists to release all the three hostages.

A late night PTI report quoted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as saying that the two interlocutors had “quit because they consider that there is no conducive atmosphere for talks”.

In the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh alleged that “the BJD government is hand in glove with Maoists... it was clear when Maoist-backed panchayat representatives supported BJD candidates in the recent zilla parishad elections in Koraput.” BJP leader and former minister Jaynarayan Mishra also alleged an understanding between the BJD government and Maoists.

According to officials, Hikaka, 37, was returning from Semiliguda to his village of Podapadar in Laxmipur when a group of about 100 Maoists stopped his vehicle at Tayaput village at about 1 am. The Maoists, believed to be members of the Andhra Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI(Maoist), had reportedly dug up the road as part of their plan to enforce the three-day Bharat bandh called by them to oppose combing operations by security forces.

Koraput SP Avinash Kumar said after stopping the MLA’s vehicle, the Maoists asked the driver the purpose of their visit. They then ordered Hikaka to get down and took away his cellphone as well as that of the driver and his personal security officer. The driver and the PSO were later released while Hikaka was taken to the nearby forest at gunpoint.

“The Maoists left behind some leaflets which said that the government should fulfill all their 13 demands for releasing the Italian hostages. The posters said Hikaka would remain hostage until the government fulfilled their earlier demands, as agreed upon when former Malkangiri collector Vineel Krishna was released,” said a police official in Koraput. Among other things, the Maoists have sought a halt to anti-Naxal operations in the state.

Pointing out that the area where Hikaka was abducted from borders Parbatipuram in Andhra Pradesh, police suspected the role of the Koraput-Srikakulam divisional committee of the CPI(Maoist), headed by Daya.

Police officials said Hikaka was warned about a possible strike by Maoists, but he did not listen to their advice to spend the night at a government quarter in Koraput. Hikaka is reported to have played a leading role in the election of a BJD worker as the zilla parishad chairman in Koraput district, with the support of the lone member of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh.

Meanwhile, teams of elite NSG commandos at Kolkata and Hyderabad have been put on alert following talks between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Union Home Ministry sources said the government has anti-Maoist operations in the state. The CM has asked all MPs and MLAs to follow the Home department’s security directives in Naxal-hit areas.