Other States   

SOG repulses naxal attack

BERHAMPUR: Attempts to target police and efforts to disrupt public life by Maoists were reported from naxal-affected Rayagada, Malkangiri and Sambalpur districts of the State on Saturday.

Maoists are now observing People’s Liberation Guerilla Army Week (PLGA) to mark the anniversary of establishment of this armed frontal organisation of naxals.

A group of Maoists attacked a group of Special Operation Group (SOG) jawans in the Chadrapur forest near Gandima village under Muniguda police station in Rayagada district in the morning. According to in-charge of the Muniguda police station A.K. Mohanty, a group of Maoists suddenly opened fire on SOG jawans combing the area.

The security forces retaliated with heavy fire.

The attackers escaped from the spot leaving behind two rifles and some ammunition. No injury or casualty was reported in relation to this exchange of fire. Five platoons of SOG jawans are now searching the area to track down the Maoists involved in the attack.

In Malkangiri district, the Maoists disrupted the traffic between the district headquarters town, Malkangiri and Motu on Andhra Pradesh border in the morning.

They dug up a huge ditch on State Highway No. 25 near MPV 31, about four kilometres from the Kalimela police station.

The ditch was 20 feet long, three feet in width and had depth of over two feet.

It is suspected that the miscreants may have taken more than five hours to dig it up. According to the Malkangiri Superintendent of Police S.K. Gajbhiye, the CRPF and SOG jawans repaired the road and by afternoon it was ready for traffic flow.

He added that intensive combing had been started in the area to nab the Maoists and their supporters.

In Sambalpur district, a police team averted a major tragedy by unearthing two live landmines near Ganjabahal square.

It is suspected that these landmines hidden in tiffin boxes were aimed at police teams involved in combing operations.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

SOG repulses naxal attack
Sainik Bhawan to be set up
‘Posco must quit country’
On cloud nine
Two warders suspended

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu