MALKANGIRI (ODISHA): A group of Maoists led by CPI (Maoist) chief Sudhir and other leaders like Anil and Sarita on Sunday evening hijacked a motor launch and took its driver hostage carrying grocery items for the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) forces in the cut-off region of Malkangiri district.
The group hijacked the motor launch near Kathagada village and took it to Orapadar. The motor launch was destined to reach Kunturpadar village — a village located under Jodamba gram panchyat of Chitrakonda block where the IRB unit is deployed.
The launch was moving close to the banks of the reservoir when the Maoists, perched on hilltops, directed the driver to navigate the vessel to the shore at Kathagada. Soon they took control of the launch.
The rebels took the driver Ghasi Pangi hostage for some hours and later assaulted him for carrying the grocery items for paramilitary personnel before setting him free.
A native of Kathagada village, the launch driver,Ghasi Pangi, was also warned by the rebels not to help the security forces in future.
The hijacked launch is still in Maoist captivity somewhere near Orapadar village in the cut-off region on the other side of vast Chitrakonda reservoir, sources said.
The police are unable to send any reinforcement apprehending ambush attacks from the Left rebels. “Further details will be known only after arrival of the launch driver Pangi at Chitrakonda,” police sources said.