As the deadline set by two Maoist groups in the twin hostage crisis ends today, the Odisha Government seemed to have toughened its stance vis-a-vis their new demands.

The pitch has been queered further by the threat of the state police to boycott anti-Naxal operations if hardcore ultras are freed by the government as per a deal to release BJD MLA Mr Jhina Hikaka and Italian Mr Paolo Bosusco.

Meanwhile, top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda's wife Ms Subhashree Das alias Mili Panda, whose release the abductors of Bosusco had demanded and the government also agreed to, was acquitted by a Gunupur fast track court in a case relating to an encounter between Naxals and securitymen at Kutinguda forest in Rayagada district.

Ms Subhashree was set free soon after being acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence, her lawyer Mr Brahmananda Patnaik said.

The fresh demand made by the abductors of Hikaka is immediate release 30 prisoners in exchange for the MLA's freedom, while the captors of Bosusco wanted a clarification on the number and names of rebels to be freed.

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