Odisha govt urges Maoists to free abducted MLA

Post the release of the Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco, the Odisha government again urged the Maoists to free the abducted legislator Jhina Hikaka who's still in their captivity. Kaushalya Majhi, Hikaka's wife, also pleaded to the abductors to safely release her husband. BJD MLA Hikaka was kidnapped on March 24 from the Koraput district when he was returning home to Laxmipur.