The Odisha government bowed to the demands made by Maoists who are holding BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka hostage, after the rebels threatened they would not extend the deadline that expired at 5 pm today.

The government has agreed to withdraw cases against 13 prisoners for the freedom of Jhina Hikaka.

"It has been decided to take steps for the withdrawal of prosecution against 13 people following the due process of law," Home Secretary U N Behera told reporters shortly afterwards. The thirteen include five Maoists.

Soon after the deadline expired, the Maoists had refused to extend it to give the Odisha government more time.

They said Hikaka's 'fate' would be decided at their 'people's court' as they no longer had faith in the state government.

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

The message claimed the state government had not freed jailed rebels as demanded, and therefore, was not serious about the release of the legislator.

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The Maoists had demanded that cases of those to be released should be withdrawn and had declined to seek bail.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

Hikaka had yesterday spoken to Chief Secretary B K Patnaik and Koraput district Collector J S Ramachandra and informed them that he was in good health.

He had also spoken over telephone with BJD MP from Koraput, Jayaram Pangi.

The MLA's wife made a fresh appeal to Maoists to free Hikaka without harming him. Appeals were also made by the government.

The message from the Maoists came shortly after the chief secretary expressed hope that the Maoists would set free Hikaka as the government was in the process of facilitating the release of prisoners as demanded.

The AOBSZC, in a message yesterday, had asked the state government to make its stand clear on the release of prisoners in exchange for the freedom of the MLA.

Panchayati Raj Secretary P K Jena, on the other hand, had said if the MLA was released by the 5:00 pm deadline today, the government would seriously consider withdrawing prosecution in 'suitable cases'.

The government had agreed to facilitate the release of 25 people including 17 members of the CMAS.

Meanwhile, a retired Army officer approached the Supreme Court today to restrain the Odisha government from meeting the Maoist demand to release jailed rebels.

Major General (retd) Gangurdep Bakshi, a counter-terrorism operations expert, pleaded with the apex court that the state government should be restrained from releasing the Maoists captured by the security forces, who had risked their lives to nab them.

Bakshi submitted that his petition be given urgent hearing as the deadline set by the Maoists would end today. The matter will come up tomorrow.

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