Maoist bandh hits Malkangiri
KORAPUT: Public transport came to a standstill in Malkangiri district on Sunday, the second day of the indefinite bandh call given by Maoists. Both state-run OSRTC and private buses remained off the roads to avert any untoward incident. The Malkangiri divisional committee of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) had called for the bandh on Friday night, protesting against the anti-extremism operations, and demanded withdrawal of central forces from the area. Given the recent Maoist offensives in the district, no one dared to disobey the diktat.
While 10 villagers were kidnapped, two were killed on charges of being police informers. The rebels blew up the Padia block office and a bridge connecting Padia with Kalimela, besides setting two buses on fire. “It’s better to suspend bus services than invite the ire of Maoists,” said a functionary of a private bus association. The 100-km stretch from Malkangiri to Motu wore a deserted look with no bus plying on the route. “People are stranded at different bus stops. Taking advantage of the situation, small vehicles are charging exorbitant fares from the passengers. The worst sufferers are the patients, who need to be shifted to the district headquarters hospital,” said a source.
The bandh was felt more in rural areas where people remained confined to their houses. Shops and markets were open in urban areas though, the source added. Police had appealed to the people not to panic. “The situation is under control. Security forces are on high alert to prevent any subversive activity. The combing operations have been intensified following the bandh call,” said SP (Malkangiri) Akhileswar Singh. In a separate incident, a joint team of Odisha police and BSF seized two country-made guns and explosives in Koraput’s Kami Padar forest on Sunday.
Odisha: Maoists strike again, kill local leader in Malkangiri
Malkangiri (Odisha) : Suspecting him to be a police informer, Maoists have killed a local leader in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, police said here today. Kosa Madhi (38) of Sangel village under Kalimela police station, secretary of local Panipanchyat, was kidnapped by the ultras on Friday when they triggered a blast with explosives and destroyed the bridge over river Poteru apparently to stop movement of security personnel between Kalimela and Padia. Madhi was produced before the ‘Kangaroo Court’ and killed by the ultra for acting as a police informer, villagers alleged. His body was spotted by the villagers today. On Friday, the Maoists had looted the house of a special police officer (SPO), Lacha Madkami, one of Madhi’s relations, of the same village.
http://odishatoday.com/viewnews.php?news_id=6125
Maoists blow up a bridge in Malkangiri
Armed Maoists blew up portions of a bridge in the Kalimela police station area of Malkangiri district, south Odisha early on Saturday. As per initial reports, a group of around 50 armed Maoists and their supporters reached the spot at around 2.30 a.m., and planted explosives on the bridge. They also left behind a handwritten poster at the spot which claimed that it was their mark of protest against continuing anti-Maoist operations in the district as well as the encounter in September 2012, in which around 13 Maoists were killed. Speaking to The Hindu, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Akhileswar Singh said this bridge was on the Poteru river.
Mr. Singh said that these acts of naxalite violence were being conducted by a group of over 100 Maoists from Chhattisgarh who have infiltrated the area. After major setbacks in the district this year through a series of arrests, surrenders and successful encounters, the Maoists are alleged to have deputed these ultras from outside to re-establish themselves. In another development, a group of armed Maoists also raided the house of a Special Police Officer (SPO) at Sangel village under Kalimela police station on Friday night.
The ultras are alleged to have looted the valuables from the house of the SPO. On Dec 25, armed Maoists had used explosives to destroy the block office building at Padia, Malkangiri. Malkangiri district, in December alone has seen kidnappings, killing of civilians and torching of passenger buses by Maoists. Meanwhile, security personnel including the Border Security Force (BSF) have been rushed to the areas where blasts occurred and SPO’s house to intensify combing operation to track down the ultras.
Maoists torch vehicle in Jharkhand
Ranchi: Maoist guerrillas set afire a vehicle engaged in road construction in Jharkhand’s Simdega district, police said Thursday. The guerrillas set the vehicle ablaze near Pawara village, around 110 km from Ranchi, Wednesday night. This was third incident involving Maoists in the last three days in Simdega district. On Monday night, guerrillas killed three people by slitting their throats. A couple was also killed the same way Tuesday night, while a vehicle was torched Wednesday.
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/maoists-torch-vehicle-in-jharkhand-31914.html
Maoists Torch Five Vehicles in Bihar
Maoists set on fire five vehicles of a private construction company in Bihar’s Gaya district and assaulted half a dozen staff for not paying levy demanded by them, police Friday said. “A group of armed Maoists attacked the camp of K.K. construction near Nepa village in Gaya late Thursday. They torched five vehicles, including trucks, JCB machine and a dumper, for not paying levy demanded by them,” a district police official said. According to police officials, Maoists also assaulted staff of the construction company. “Maoists tied the hands and legs of the staff and threw them in a nearby river but they survived,” police said. Maoists in rural areas across Bihar are paid levy by private construction companies, contractors, traders, businessmen and even government officials.
