Bhubaneswar: The Naxals in Odisha have decided to release Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka at the Balipeta village in Koraput at 10 am on Thursday. However, the MLA has been asked to resign after he is released from the captivity of the Naxals.

The decision was taken at a people’s court by the Naxals, following which Nihar Patnaik, the lawyer of the abducted MLA, was informed.

It has been over a month since he was abducted from Koraput district.

Despite the government agreeing to release 25 arrested cadres, the Naxals had been changing their terms for the MLA’s release.

Meanwhile, security agencies had launched a massive combing operation and were attempting to trace all possible Naxal movement in the area.