The police are reportedly upset over the state government agreeing to meet all the demands of the Maoists for the release of the Italian tourist and MLA hostages and have threatened to boycott duty in Naxal dominated areas.

After the Odisha government agreed to the release of arrested Maoists for the release of an Italian tourist and MLA , the state police association has reportedly threatened to boycott duty in areas dominated by Naxals if all the demands by the insurgents were met.

The police association's decision came after the Odisha government agreed last week to the release of 27 arrested insurgents in exchange for the two hostages, CNN-IBN reported.

Police officials in Naxal dominated areas are reportedly upset about the government bending to the demands of the insurgents. The Italian tourist and BJD MLA have been kidnapped by two factions of the insurgents.

The government is already in a quandry over the demand for the release of Naxal Chenda Bhusanam alias Ghasi, who is accused of killing at least 55 security personnel, and had sought the opinion of the state police on the matter.

"We have sought opinion of the police on whether the fresh demands made by the abductors of the MLA could be met," Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters in Bubhaneshwar adding that the legal aspects need to be verified before taking any decision.

The Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoist), which abducted Hikaka on 24 March, in a fresh demand asked the state government to release five more persons including Ghasi to ensure safe release of the MLA.

Ghasi is also accused of being involved in 35 other criminal cases in Andhra Pradesh. He was arrested by the Odisha Police at Semiliguda area on April 4, 2011.

Ghasi, presently lodged at Koraput jail, was involved in major Naxal acts in the state, particularly in Malkangiri and Koraput districts.

with inputs from PTI