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Thirty three days after he was abducted BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka freed
After being released, Hikaka says that “it is better to live life like an ordinary citizen”
Bibhuti Pati
Malkangiri
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Jhina Hikaka with Koraput MLA and other BJD leaders at a press meet in Koraput Circuit House |
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Thirty three days after he was abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Jhina Hikaka was released on Thursday morning. He was released by his Maoist abductors at Bijaya Ghat. His wife Kausalyaa was waiting for him in Baliapeta.
According to rebel leader Aruna, who represents Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), it was the Praja Court held in the jungles of Narayanpatna that decided to set the MLA free. She had earlier stated that Hikaka has “resigned” from his MLA post in front of the Praja Court.
However, Hikaka has said that he will discuss the proposed resignation with the people in his constituency and only then take a final decision. Hikaka, did confirm that he “resigned” in the Praja Court.
The Maoist leaders have maintained that after his release Hikaka will go to Bhubaneswar and will submit his official resignation. According to the Praja Court, Hikaka will also resign from his primary membership of the BJD.
After Hikaka was received by his wife Kaushalyaa, he said his eyes welling up, “The Maoists treated me well. Refusing to comment directly on the Praja Court's decision, he said “it was better to live like an ordinary citizen.” He said during his captivity he was made to change locations at least three times a day. Regarding the Praja Court’s decision, Hikaka said that Aruna’s audio tape is correct. “I will discuss with my constituency people about my resignation and I will act. But I won’t like to continue as an MLA or politician in near future,” he said.
Hikaka criticised the state government’s apathy towards his release and raised concerns about tribal atrocities and false cases lodged by the local administration in different tribal areas.
Speculation has it that CMAS leader Nachika Linga will now come to direct electoral politics and Hikaka will demand that the state government withdraws all pending cases against Nachika along with dropping his name form the Most Wanted list.
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Photo: Tikana Mishra |
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Dr Rajat Kumar Kujur, a senior expert on peace and conflict and a PhD on Maoists’ issues said, “Abduction as a strategy of Maoist movement isn’t new. It has been used by them in the past. In terms of statistics when everyone was talking about their declining influence, with these abductions they made it clear that their brand of politics can’t be ignored. On a larger note, it seems the government does not learn from past mistakes. When in 2011, Maoists abducted Vineel Krishnaa, the whole government mechanism zoomed in on his release but once he was released all preferred to ignore it is an isolated incident. Blaming Maoists for their adventurous misdeed will not serve the purpose. What is required is to formulate strong answers for their brand of politics. Unless the government is prepared to do this the problem will continue,” Kujur added.
K Anuradha a research scholar on Naxalism said, “The abductions and demand for resignation or building up pressure on government machineries is a strategy by Naxals to show their power when someone is in captivity. It has no solution but means an opportunity for the Naxals to use it in future as a strategy to put forward a candidate of their liking to contest for election or by-election.”
Hikaka's release was confirmed on Wednesday when Aruna sent an audio tape, saying the decision to release Hikaka was taken after he agreed to resign from the state Assembly and also sever his ties with the ruling BJD.
“For me, Wednesday was one of the greatest days of my life. I felt I woke up from my graveyard after a rebirth with the grace of the Almighty. But still, life had not come to my body in full and I was waiting anxiously for the D-Day on Thursday when the rebels will release my husband,” said Kausalyaa.
The MLA’s mother Rushe Hikaka (75), who was bed-ridden over the past few days, recovered considerably when she heard that the rebels released her only son. “I don’t want anything now. I just want to see my son, nothing more,” said Rushe.
“When I was sick, the Maoist leaders provided me with all the necessary medicines, Hikaka said in the press conference. Sources said that Hikaka will fly to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar tonight and then a fresh strategy will be prepared.
Hikaka and two Italian tourists in separate incidents were abducted in March. The Italians—Paolo Bosusco (54), and Claudio Colangelo (61)—were seized on 14 March while trekking in a tribal area of Odisha. Colangelo was released on 25 March while Bosusco was freed on 12 April. A different group of Maoists is still holding IAS officer Alex Menon in the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh.
After a month in captivity, Hikaka to be freed on Thursday
Post release, the BJD MLA will resign not only from his official position but also relinquish his party membership, say Maoists
Bibhuti Pati
Malkangiri
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MLA Jinna Hikaka was abducted by Maoists on 24 March
Photo: AFP |
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A month after he was abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Jhina Hikaka will be released by 10 am on Thursday, confirmed Maoist leader Aruna on Wednesday morning. Aruna informed the media from the abducted MLA’s cell phone.
The rebel leader, who represents Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), said the decision to set the MLA free was taken in a Praja court held in the jungles of Narayanpatna. She did not disclose as to when and where the Praja court was held.
“Hikaka has resigned in the Praja court, and after his release he will go to Bhubaneswar and will submit his official resignation. It was decided in the Praja court that he will also resign from BJD’s primary membership,” said Aruna.
However, sources said, at the Praja court, the abducted MLA Hikaka had signed an agreement to meet all demands of the tribals within a stipulated period of time (one month) and try to stop the police atrocities on innocent people in the region. Again, at the Praja court, Hikaka promised he will demand that the government drop Nachika’s name from the list of most wanted and quash all cases against him.
“Besides, the MLA has given a written undertaking that if during the stipulated period he fails to fulfill all the demands of the tribals, he would resign from his Assembly membership as well as from the ruling BJD party,” sources said.
Aruna also added that the legislator gave expression to his discontentment at the Praja court over “the state government’s non-seriousness to secure his release as he was a tribal. What the government is doing in the tribal areas in the name of Maoists like registering false cases and carrying out atrocities against the tribals is not good and after release, Hikaka will bring it to the knowledge of government, especially the chief minister. Regarding the false cases and tribal atrocities, Hikaka regretted that as a ruling party tribal MLA he has not given justice to the tribal people, and hence, it is better to resign”.
“What is good or bad is not important, the important points are both the state and the Centre are responsible for growing Maoist problem and have failed to solve this problem. Both governments are unsuccessful in sorting out tribals’ problems and issues,” said veteran CPI leader and MP Lok Sabha Gurdas Dasgupta talking about Hikaka’s forcible resignation.
Baijyanta Panda, senior BJD leader and Lok Sabha MP, said, “It is not good to kidnap somebody and force one to resign. Regarding his resignation in Praja court, it is all speculation. The truth will come out once Hikaka is released.”
Aruna further said that she had intimated the Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Patnaik and the abductor legislator’s wife Kaushalya and asked them to come to Balipeta village under Narayanpatna police limit at around 10 am on Thursday to receive the MLA. No police or spy should accompany them, she warned.
Aruna informed that the MLA was in good health. Hikaka’s son Rohi Hikaka said, “I am so happy that my father will come back. My mother, including all family members, is eagerly waiting for his release.”
The release of the MLA was delayed as the state government and the rebels could not reach any agreement over the contentious issue of the release of rebel prisoners.
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