Family members demand to release CMAS members

Narayanpatna: The family members of activists of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh(CMAS) incarcerated in jails of Koraput and Malkangiri today held dharna at village Balipeta demaning immediate release of the jailed persons.

"The government had announced to facilitate the release of 15 CMAS members to secure the freedom of Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka but no one has been released though the deadline set by the Andhra-Odisha-Border Special Zonal Committee(AOBSZC) came to an end on Tuesday," alleged the family members.

The demonstrators numbering over 40 said that they would not vacate the place as long as the government released the jailed members of the CMAS. The abductors of Jhina Hikaka had earlier urged the two Maoist-named mediators B D Sharma, Dandapani Mohanty, one lawyer and Koushalya, wife of kidnapped MLA Jhina Hikaka to come to Balipeta along with 30 freed prisoners on April 10 where they hand over the tribal legislator.