Orissa legislator released by Maoists on promise he will resign from seat

NEW DELHI // Maoist rebels released an Indian state legislator yesterday after holding him for a month and saying he pledged to them he would resign his seat.

The rebels had released an audio tape on Wednesday saying they agreed to free Jhina Hikaka after he told a rebel-conducted "people's court" he would resign from the Orissa legislature.

Yesterday, Mr Hikaka said he would do "whatever the Maoists have said". He gave no details.

A top member from Mr Hikaka's political party, Jay Panda, said he was glad for the legislator's release but would not comment on whether Mt Hikaka would resign.

The Maoist tape said the legislator had accepted that he failed to perform his duties as a lawmaker and prevent police atrocities.

Mr Hikaka was released deep inside the forests of Orissa's Koraput district. He belongs to a tribal community and represents an area within the district.

In recent weeks the rebels have kidnapped two Italian men and a district official. The Italians were freed after some Maoist prisoners were released. The district officer remains in custody.