NEW DELHI: Leftist rebels, who have kept an Indian junior legislator hostage, have now produced him before a people's court which is expected to decide his fate soon, a lawyer representing the ‘Maoist' rebels said. Nihar Patnaik, who has in the past appeared in court on behalf of the leftist rebels, said that a Maoist unit which owes allegiance to the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) is conducting a praja (people's) court at the Koraput district in the eastern state of Odisha. A remote district with pitiable social indicators is a hot bed of rebel activity, with the government's writ barely running over the territory, the people's court will now decide the fate of the 37 year old MLA from the Biju Janata Dal (BJP) Jhina Hikaka, who was kidnapped earlier this month and held hostage. The people's court had been summoned after a deadline set by the Maoists for release of 13 imprisoned Maoists expired on Wednesday, even as the government, bowing in to the demands has already promised to withdraw prosecution against the 13 rebels. “It has been decided to take steps for withdrawal of prosecution against 13 persons following the due process of law”, Home Secretary UN Behera and a key government negotiator said. It should be note that Maoist insurgents have been fighting against the Indian state for decades now over ideological differences with the Indian government. They claim they are fighting for the rights of India's tribal people and landless farmers
