BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Thursday announced the names of 27 persons, including eight Maoists in judicial custody, whose release will be facilitated in exchange for the abducted BJD MLA from Laxmipur, Jhina Hikaka, and Italian Paolo Bosusco.“The government of Odisha will take necessary legal steps for facilitating the release of 27 persons. The government has made this gesture on humanitarian grounds,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the Assembly, with the belief that the Maoists will reciprocate in a similar spirit and release the two hostages.Meanwhile, the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoist) has further extended the deadline to Saturday for the government to meet its demands following a request by the Chief Minister.Subhashree Das, also known as Mili Panda, wife of most wanted CPI (Maoist) leader and secretary of the Orissa State organising committee of the banned organisation, Sabyasachi Panda, is prominent among the four prisoners the government has agreed for release in exchange for the Italian national. The other three are Arati Majhi, Suka Nachika and Chakra Tadingi.Chief Minister Patnaik said that his government will facilitate the release of 23 persons, including eight Maoists and 15 members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, to secure the freedom of the abducted BJD MLA. Two of the eight Maoists — Murla Neelam Reddy and Setu Pangi — are from Andhra Pradesh and are married to each other. The remaining six persons from Odisha are Narsi Kendruka, Joruka Kendruka (both women), Deba Majhi, Ganga Sodi, Bima Padiama and Mangraj Darua. Rupuni Sirika is the only woman of the 15 members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha whose release the government has agreed to facilitate.
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