The ruling Biju Janata Das (BJD) legislator in Odisha was released Thursday by Naxals in Koraput district of the state, local television in Bhubaneswar, the state capital, reported.

Reporters surrounded around Hikaka, who appeared relieved and healthy, as he was accompanied by a group of villagers to a mango garden at Balipeta, over 500 km from Bhubaneswar, at about 10.30 a. m.

The 37-year-old Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator, wearing a green kurta, hugged his wife Kaushalya. He said he was in good condition and the rebels had treated him well.

Replying to a question from a reporter at the site on whether he pledged to the rebels that he would resign from the assembly and from the BJD, Hikaka said, "You will come to know about it."

BJD MP Baijayant Panda told reporters, "We're glad that he is safe and unharmed."

The left-wing rebels, who kidnapped Hikaka from Laxmipur in Koraput on March 24, Wednesday announced that a people's court had decided to release him after he apologised to the rebels and local villagers.

But a woman Naxal leader calling herself Aruna, in an audio message aired by a local television channel in Bhubaneswar, said the decision to release him was taken after he promised to resign from the assembly and the primary membership of the ruling BJD.