BHUBANESWAR: Freed from Maoist captivity, Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka on Thursday avoided speaking about what took place at the ‘praja’ court where he was produced before his release and his undertaking to resign from the Assembly. “They (Maoists) organised the praja court in their own style. There was discussion on different issues. They did not put pressure on me. Whatever happened there was done mutually,” he told mediapersons after reaching his residence at Laxmipur in Koraput district. Asked if he would resign from the membership of the assembly and quit BJD as claimed by woman Maoist leader Aruna in an audio tape released on Wednesday, Hikaka said, “You will know everything later.” Asked categorically whether he put in his papers, he said a praja court was not a platform to resign. “You will be able to know everything. Please do not ask me anything in this regard as I am mentally disturbed,” he said. Local BJD leaders who met Hikaka in the Koraput circuit house said that the issue of his resignation did not crop up during the discussion. “He was in Maoist captivity for more than a month. Let him recuperate,” a senior leader from the district said. Nihar Patnaik, Koraput-based lawyer of the CPI (Maoist) and CMAS, who accompanied the MLA to his village after his release, also said that Hikaka was yet to discuss the issue with him. He may clarify the issue later, he said. Sources said that Hikaka admitted his failure to work for restoring peace in Narayanpatna during the last three years. A statement purportedly written by Hikaka said that though he remained in Maoist captivity for more than a month, the demands were not met. The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoist) which abducted the MLA on March 24 claimed that Hikaka gave a written undertaking at the praja court that he would resign from the Assembly and from the BJD and work for the people. The MLA said his release was the outcome of support from the tribals and media coupled with his own efforts. “I specially thank mediapersons who have been working day in and day out since my abduction,” he said. He said that he was worried about the people of Laxmipur and his family during the 32 days he was held captive.
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