The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Naxals target outsiders in Malkangiri district

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Naxals target outsiders in Malkangiri district

Staff Reporter

‘The major reason behind it is the effort by the vagrants to increase their ransom collection’

BERHAMPUR: Naxals are killing unidentified persons from outside the State in naxal infested Malkangiri district of Orissa. The Maoists have also started massive propaganda drive to claim mark their presence in the district.

The police force in this most naxal infested district of Orissa is yet to ascertain the real reason behind the two recent killings of unidentified persons from outside the State by the Maoists and their propaganda drive. But the Malkangiri Superintendent of Police, Satish Kumar Gajbhiye says one of the major reason behind it is the effort by the vagrants to increase their ransom collection.

An unknown person was killed by naxals in the district on April 3. The papers found from his belongings hinted that he was one ‘Bhaskar’ from Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. In another incident naxals killed person near Telarai on April 24. He was again suspected to be from adjoining Chhattisgarh as writings in Devnagri script were found on his body. There are also suspicions that these persons were part of the Naxal outfit and were killed due to some tussle. Although Naxals claimed they were police informers, Mr. Gajbhiye reiterated they had no links with the police and were also not known to any localites. The bodies of these persons were surely used by the Maoists to terrorise people for increasing ransom claims from traders of remote areas, he said.

Video clippings

Meanwhile, a CD with video clippings of ‘Bal Sangham’ or children’s wing of naxals has also started making rounds as part of Naxal propaganda. Investigations have proved that the footage in the CD were from different parts of the country especially from north India. But it was used by naxals to give an impression that Bal Sangham training was continuing in Malkangiri district also. The SP accepts that Bal sangham was active in low scale in remote areas of the district but the recent CD clips were only part of a naxal propaganda to create a panic situation.

During past one year naxals have targeted four village headmen in Malkangiri district. They include a former naib-sarpanch Sunam Jagabandhu of Tandbai panchayat, Mukunda Madhi of Bandiguda, former chairman of Kalimela block, Jaga Madi and Madkami Kana of Petta village.

As per tradition they were settling disputes at their villages and were involved in developmental activities at the villages.

They were killed as they were opposed to ‘praja courts’ by naxals who have no links with their village affairs and are opposed to developmental works especially communication link up, said the SP. According to him naxals strongly oppose roads and telephone link to remote areas as it weakens their scope to collect ransom.

In April naxals killed Satyam Lachha, who was involved in ferry business on a river near Jilengiguda.

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