Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said his government had decided to facilitate the release of as many as 27 persons to secure the freedom of Biju Janata Dal legislator Jhina Hikaka and Italian tour operator Bosusco Paolo from Maoists.
Making a statement in the Assembly, Mr. Patnaik said that in the case of Mr. Hikaka, the government had decided to facilitate the release of 15 members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha and also eight Left-wing extremists from Koraput and Malkangiri jails. Mr. Hikaka has been in the clutches of Maoists since his abduction on March 24.
