Odisha MLA abducted,, CM called a high-level meeting today

 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday called a high-level meet following the abduction of a party MLA by Maoists.

Jhina Hikaka, a tribal BJD legislator from Laxmipur, was abducted in Koraput district in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

Hikaka was returning home from Koraput when more than 50 armed rebels stopped his vehicle near Toyaput, Koraput Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar said.

While the personal security officer (PSO) and driver of the MLA were allowed to leave, Hikaka was taken away into the nearby forest, about 40 km from here by the ultras at gunpoint, he said.

The PSO and driver informed the Laxmipur police station about the incident, Kumar said, adding steps have been initiated to ascertain the whereabouts of the legislator.

In New Delhi, the Home Ministry sources said the state government had been tipped-off about a possible high-level abduction by the Maoists.

The latest kidnapping came 10 days after the Maoists took two Italians hostage from Kandhamal district on March 14 and talks were in progress between rebel-nominated negotiators and government representatives to resolve the crisis.

The incident happened hours after CM Patnaik appealed to the rebels to desist from violence.

Meanwhile, Maoist negotiators engaged to end the Italian hostage crisis - BD Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty – have appealed to the Maoists to release the legislator without delay.