Orissa abduction: Uproar in assembly

Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members Saturday created an uproar in Odisha assembly over the abduction of a tribal member by Maoists early today.

Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members on Saturday created an uproar in Odisha assembly over the abduction of a tribal member by Maoists early Saturday.

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The members shouted slogans against the government and trooped towards the speaker as soon as the question hour started.

They were noisy even when chief minister Naveen Patnaik tried to read out a statement.

According to police, a group of 100-150 Maoists abducted ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Jhina Hikaka, 37, from a hilly area between Koraput and Laxmipur, about 500 km from Bhubaneswar.

The kidnapping came at a time when the guerrillas are already holding hostage two Italians for over a week. The government is talking to them through mediators.

Patnaik said state police officials had been sent to the area. He added that two senior ministers would also go to the region to assess the situation.

As the pandemonium continued, speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the house until 12.30 pm.