Hours after Maoists said a people’s court would decide the fate of abducted MLA Jhina Hikaka, the Naveen Patnaik government said it would withdraw cases against 13 jailed Naxals and their alleged sympathisers. The prospect of Hikaka’s release had brightened on Tuesday evening after Maoists showed signs of softening their stance as they allowed Hikaka to speak over telephone with Chief Secretary B K Patnaik and Koraput Collector Sachin Jadhav.