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Arrested naxals reveal startling facts

BERHAMPUR: Maoists operating in different parts of the State have joined hands in executing their bloody attack in Nayagarh district recently. Naxalites of South and north-western Orissa have developed a communication network to plan major acts of violence in the State.

The startling facts have come to light following interrogation of two naxalites who were arrested in Ganjam district during combing after the Nayagarh attack.

Manjulata Muduli and Pratap Kimbaka were arrested near Galeri police outpost, which was blasted by naxalites on February 16. They were interrogated at Bhanjanagar by a team led by Ganjam SP Debadutta Singh.

A suspiciously moving arrested from Bhanjanagar two days ago and the four suspected persons arrested from Sorada area of the district were being interrogated.

The identity of Manjulata and Pratap could be ascertained from a piece of paper they had with them. This piece of paper was the label of an ammunition box looted from the Nayagarh armoury. The police also seized an axe and a 9mm rifle that the duo had thrown away to avoid suspicion.

Manjulata was from Lachhmakana village under Erasama police station in Jagatsinghpur district and Pratap was from Chandrapur village of Muniguda police station area in Rayagada district. While Pratap was involved in violence in the areas of Koraput and organisational work for Maoists in Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts, Manjulata was part of hardcore naxal activity in western Orissa for last six years. She was also member of the Sambalpur area committee.

It seemed Pratap from South Orissa was deputed to western Orissa by some centralised decision-making unit of the Maoists in Orissa. Both these cadres were jointly involved in at least six killings in western Orissa. Earlier, it was thought that the Maoists operating in different pockets of the State had little communication between them. The Nayagarh incident dispelled the myth as these two naxals were part of the group that was active in western Orissa though it was suspected that a large number of them were from Andhra and South Orissa.

Meanwhile, combing operation was continuing in the areas of Gasama forests, Daringbadi, Brahmanigaon of Kandhamal district, Adaba jungles of Gajapati district, forests of Sorada and Tumba in Ganjam district.

The bodies of some 20 naxalites who were claimed to have been killed in an encounter with the police near Gasama hills were yet to be traced. Bhanjanagar was made headquarters of this extensive combing operation to track down Maoists involved in Nayagarh attack. Commandoes of the CRPF, the SOG and the Greyhounds were taking part in it. It was suspected that naxals were trying to escape in small groups through different routes.

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