BALIPETA/NARAYANPATNA: The 5 pm Wednesday deadline set by Jhina Hikaka’s abductors passed. Hikaka was to be released in exchange of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) members who have been lodged in various jails in the State.Hoping that the deadline set by the Maoists would lead to the release of CMAS members by evening, hundreds of villagers and CMAS members gathered at Balipeta village from the wee hours to welcome them. Holding lethal weapons and placards, they guarded the entire village to prevent outsiders from entering it during the exchange of prisoners with the MLA. The release did not happen as four of the 25 persons, whose release the Maoists had demanded, were granted bail by a Jeypore fast track court and it would be sometime before they could walk out free.“We have nothing to do with the release of the MLA. We have gathered here only to welcome our CMAS prisoners,” informed Guru Linga, a CMAS activist. They claimed that the 29 persons, including 17 CMAS members, were arrested on fake charges. Most of the CMAS members, it is believed, had no information about the bail petitions filed on behalf of their members in Jeypore and Koraput courts on Wednesday. “We want all 25 prisoners demanded earlier by Maoists to be released soon by the Government and all cases against them withdrawn,” said Silka Kenduruka, Sarpanch of Balipeta. With no news on the release, the CMAS members shouted slogans demanding release of the prisoners and went back.
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