Bhubaneswar, April 18
Maoists holding BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage today refused to extend the deadline, which expired at 5:00 pm, for meeting their demands and said his fate would be decided at the people's court as they did not have faith in the Odisha Government. 

In a message to the media, a leader of CPI (Maoist) Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee said the fate of the 37-year-old tribal MLA from Laxmipur would be decided by the 'praja' court.

Stating that it had no faith in the state government, the message claimed that it was not serious about the release of the MLA by freeing jailed rebels as demanded.

The message said the deadline had been extended four times in the past and there would be no further extension.

A Koraput-based lawyer Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, who fights cases of Maoists and their front the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), said the praja court was likely to be held tomorrow and time and venue would be decided later.

The Maoists had demanded that cases of those to be released should be withdrawn and had declined to seek bail.

The ultras had dropped the name of Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, accused in the killing of 55 policemen, from the list of rebels sought to be freed in exchange for the legislator who was kidnapped on March 24 from Koraput district. They wanted the lawyer and the MLA's wife Kaushalya to accompany the freed rebels to Balipeta to Narayanpatna area in Koraput district for a hostage-prisoner exchange. — PTI