Maoists kidnap Laximpur MLA

Jhina Hikaka, legislator from Laxmipur, was returning home from Semiliguda after attending a party meeting in connection with the election of the Vice President of Zilla Parishad when more than 100 armed ultras waylaid his vehicle near Toyaput on the Koraput-Laxmipur road.

The PSO and driver Urgrasen, who had informed the Laxmipur police station about the incident, said a large number of armed rebels had surrounded the vehicle after stopping it."They took away my mobile phone and that of the PSO before asking us to leave," the driver said, adding "they also asked us to tell people that Maoists had abducted the MLA."

While the personal security officer (PSO) and driver of the MLA were allowed to leave, Hikaka was taken away into the nearby forest by the ultras at gunpoint, he said.

The abduction came 10 days after the Maoists took two Italians hostage from Kandhamal district on March 14 and talks were in progress between rebel-nominated
negotiators and government representatives to resolve the crisis.

Maoist negotiators engaged to end the Italian hostage crisis-B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty-have appealed to the Maoists to release the legislator without delay.