Other States - Orissa   

Maoists tighten grip on Malkangiri

BHUBANESWAR: Malkangiri, a backward district of the State, has become one of the major strongholds of naxalites in the country, if successive attacks carried out by Maoists are any indication.

The geographical location of the tribal-dominated district that touches naxal-infested States of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh apparently has made it easy for the Left wing extremists to make it a den of their own.

Poor road network, backbreaking poverty and virtual absence of the administration are said to be the reasons that have largely contributed to the growth of naxalism in the region.

Two consecutive strikes by the Maoists – attack on a launch carrying Greyhounds jawans of Andhra Pradesh in Balimela reservoir on June 29 and Wednesday’s blasting of a mine-protected vehicle – have made it clear that the extremists have gained the upper hand.

While 38 persons, a majority of them Greyhounds jawans, were killed in the ambush on the boat, the landmine blast on Wednesday led to the death of 17 Orissa police personnel.

Authorities on Thursday confirmed that 17 police personnel were killed in the landmine blast near MV-126 village. The bodies were brought to the district headquarters town and handed over to their families.

That Malkangiri has become a naxal fortress is also clear from the government’s own records. Of the total of 278 naxal incidents that the State witnessed between 1990 and 2006, 119 took place in the district itself.

Of late, the naxalites have also killed several village heads, politicians and contractors in Malkangiri and adjoining districts of Koraput and Rayagada branding them police informers. This apparently affected the intelligence network of the police, according to sources.

The spurt in naxal violence contradicts the State government’s claim that it is giving priority to development work in the naxal-hit districts.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the Centre to release adequate funds for modernisation of the State police.

During his meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi, Mr. Patnaik also stressed the need for increase in the scale of reimbursement under Security Related Expenditure to continue with anti-naxalite operations.

He further requested Mr. Patil to send 400 personnel of Central para-military force personnel on deputation to strengthen the anti-naxal operations in the State.

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