The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the Centre and the Odisha government on a petition seeking to restrain the release of jailed Maoists in exchange for captive Biju Janata Dal MLA Jina Hikaka.
Hours before the deadline set by Naxals for release of their jailed members in exchange of an abducted Orissa Member of Legislative Assembly, a retired army officer on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court to restrain the state government from meeting Maoists' demands. Major General (retired) Gangurdep Bakshi pleaded with the apex court that the state government should be restrained from releasing the Naxals as they had been captured by security forces.