MALKANGIRI:Normal life was hit in remote areas of the district on the first day of PLGA Week on Wednesday, being observed by Maoists. The situation, though, was normal in Malkangiri town.
Though no untoward incident was reported on the first day, public services were badly affected. Private and Government buses remained off the road within Malkangiri and inter-State buses were diverted through different routes.
OSRTC buses to Malkangiri were suspended and buses from Jeypore to Bhubaneswar via Rayagada were diverted through Andhra Pradesh. Private passenger buses also did not ply apprehending attack by the Maoists. People residing on either side of Andhra-Odisha border remained cut off from the mainstream as there was no public transport on the day.
Areas like Kalimela, MV-79, Podia, Motu, Bhejangwada and Khairput wore a deserted look.
Maoist banners were found at various places in Chitrakonda, Balimela, Khairput, Govindpalli, Podia, MV 79 and Korukonda.
Sources in BSF and local police said a vigil is being maintained on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border. Vehicles entering the district are being frisked while patrolling has been intensified. Area domination exercises are being carried out and police stations have been fortified.
6 Maoists Arrested in Malkangiri
At least six armed Maoists of the CPI (Maoist) outfit were arrested by Malkangiri Police on Tuesday from Kalimela forest. They are Gobinda Khemudu(22), Soma Podiami(23), Sukra Kabasi(25), Rama Madkami(25), Deba Kabasi(30) and Jaga Kabasi(25). They were arrested from different locations in Rajurkonda area under Kalimela police limits.
While Soma was a member of the outlawed outfit, the other five were active militia members of the Kalimela Dalam. They were working with the Malkangiri division of the outfit under Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee, said Malkangiri SP, Mitrabhanu Mahapatra.
Gobinda, Soma, Deba and Jaga were wanted for killing one Gurumurty Madhi of Telrai village in August this year after suspecting him to be a police informer. Madhi’s bullet ridden body was spotted by the villagers in forest nearby.
A native of Kurub village under Kalimela police limits, Gobinda was also wanted in several other murders and loot cases.
Similarly, Rama and Sukra are residents of Sudhakonda village and were involved in murders of villagers, loot and arson cases.