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Odisha MLA Jhina Hikaka was on Thursday released unharmed by Maoists at a village in Koraput, 33 days after he was abducted from the same district by the rebels.
Clad in a green kurta and pajama, Hikaka was escorted by a group of tribals to Balipeta village in Maoist-affected Narayanpatna area, where he was believed to have been produced in a Maoist 'praja' (people's) court which agreed to set him free.
The ruling BJD legislator was handed over by the tribals to his wife, Kaushalya Majhi, and a lawyer who fights cases for the ultras and their frontal organisations, Nihar Ranjan Patnaik.
"I am thankful to the tribals and the media for their support. I was very anxious to see him," a relieved and delighted Kaushalya said immediately after meeting her husband.
A medical team, which was present at Balipeta, would examine the 37-year-old, first-time legislator.
The release was officially confirmed in Bhubaneswar by Home Secretary U N Behera who said, "The MLA has been freed by the Maoists."
According to the Maoist Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) which had held him captive and produced him before a 'praja' court, Hikaka had given a written undertaking that he would resign from the state assembly and from the BJD and work for the people.