Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Ten days have passed since Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka was abducted by Maoists and there is still no specific information regarding his whereabouts and health condition. The government had appealed to the Maoists to suggest names of mediators to start dialogue to free the MLA. The government even had announced that it was prepared for talks with the Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh(CMAS)  to end the hostage row. But the CMAS has spurned the government`s proposal.

The name of top Maoist leader Ganti Prasad started doing the rounds. However, Ganti Prasad himself has denied all sorts of speculations about his role as an interlocutor. In a telephonic conversation with OTV Ganti said that there was no truth behind such speculations and he was in no position right now to play any role in the talks with the government to release the Laxmipur MLA. Ganti Prasad had played a crucial role, though behind the screen, last year in the talks with Maoists to release former Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna.

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