To free or not to free: Governments dilemma

BHUBANESWAR: The latest demand of the Maoists to exchange 30 prisoners for the freedom of Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka has made the situation more uncertain.Sources said the Government has sought the opinion of the police on the demand made by the Andhra Odisha Border Zonal Committee (AOBZC) for the release of Cheda Bhusanam alias Ghasi who is involved in several cases of Naxal violence in the state.“We have sought opinion of the police on whether the fresh demands made by the abductors of the MLA could be met,” Chief Secretary BK Patnaik told mediapersons here adding that the legal aspects need to be verified before taking any decision.The AOBZC in a fresh demand asked the Government to free five more persons including Ghasi. Besides six major incidents of Naxal violence including murder, Ghasi had also been accused in 35 other cases in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.The Andhra Pradesh government had announced Rs 10 lakh for the arrest of Ghasi, a state committee member of AOBZC, a senior police officer said adding he was involved in Alampaka attack in Balimela reservoir in which 38 police men were killed.Ghasi was arrested by Odisha Police at Semiliguda area on April 4, 2011. He was one of the most ferocious killers churned out by the CPI (Maoist) and is believed to have murdered around two dozen men between 1991 and 1996 during which he was wanted in as many as 58 cases.Andhra Pradesh was his hunting ground where he had unleashed a rein of terror in Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam (Rural) and Karimnagar.He was booked in as many as 58 cases in Andhra Pradesh and in close to 22 of them, he was wanted for murder.He was reported to be involved in four killings in Koraput alone in the last couple of years - that of tribal leader Arjun Kendruka, Zilla Parishad member Anand Kirsani, Rabi Khora and Puru Sirika.A member of the AOBZC, Cheda led some of the most sensational operations of the Maoist party in Orissa including the attacks at Nayagarh armoury, R Udaygiri jail, Koraput armoury and Damanjodi hilltop unit of CISF. Also known as Khatru among the cadres, Cheda belonged to Malupali area under Visakhapatnam district.