Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda had to spend one night in the car in Haradaguda jungle in Borrigumma region of Koraput district as the CMAS members and Maoists had blocked the road by felling trees targeting the minister.
According to sources, despite repeated warning by the district police regarding Maoist threat in the region, the Minister had gone to Hardaguda, a sensitive Maoist pocket in Borrigumma block late Tuesday evening. When the Minister’s convey was returning to Jeypore via Borriguma, they got information about road block by the Maoists.
Then, the return plan was cancelled by security personnel. The Minister and his followers had to stay in the jungle area till Wednesday morning. Later, they reached Borrigumma after road was cleared by security forces.
The matter was kept under the wraps by local police till Thursday.
However, as Nanda reached Borriguma, the news spread like wildfire.
When contacted, Nanda told this paper that he was indeed in a checkmate position and spent whole night in Haradaguda jungle under Maoist threat. “Despite the ordeals and threat to my life, I did my job,” he said.