Jhina flouted travel advisory: Sources

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday underscored the need for strict adherence to the travel advisory, issued by the Home Department, by ministers, MPs and MLAs in Maoist-hit areas of the State.The Chief Minister reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting here. Naveen directed the Home Department officials to again circulate the guidelines among all ministers, MPs and MLAs. According to the guidelines, during the tour of the Maoist-affected districts, the MLAs and Government officials have to let the district SP concerned know about their tour plan. They have to inform the police if there is a sudden change in the tour programme.The Government had also advised MLAs/MPs not to visit the affected areas between sunset and sunrise. If they are aware of road being cut off in any place, they have to report it to the police immediately, it said.Legislator Jhina Hikaka, who had been to Similiguda in Koraput district regarding the election of vice-president of Zilla Parishad, was held hostage sometime after  midnight. The BJD’s first-time MLA flouted the standing guidelines for the people’s representatives on movement in the Maoist-affected areas.Moving around in Naxal-hit areas by the MLA so late at night without informing the police is violation of the guidelines. Sources said not only Hikaka, several other senior BJD leaders were present at a meeting on Friday night.While the guidelines clearly bar movement of MLAs/MPs and ministers after sunset in Red zones, no one seems to be going by it. Sources said law-makers in the KBK are very often seen moving during night.