BHAWANIPATNA: More than a week after a woman Maoist was killed in an encounter in the forests of Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district, the Maoists identified her as Sangita and called a bandh in two districts in protest against the killing.
In a two-minute audio tape released by Ghumsar-Nagavalli-Bansadhara division Secretary Nikhil alias Niranjan Rout to a local news channel here, the Maoists declared that the woman Maoist was Sangita from Adikanda village of Mohana block in Gajapati district. Sangita was killed on September 15 during an exchange of fire between Special Operation Group (SOG) and Maoists in Phulbari forest near Katlang village under Bijepur police limits.
Through the tape Nikhil informed that the division has called a bandh in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts on September 29 protesting the encounter. He stated that Sangita was active in the division for the last seven years.
The tape also disagreed the statement of DIG (South Western) S Shiny and Kalahandi SP Brijesh Rai that Maoists were pushing woman cadres to the front to let them die.
Police are, however, verifying the authenticity of the tape. Rai said there is no confirmed information on the matter. But, police are alert to meet any eventuality and control law and order. Combing operation to flush out the Maoists is continuing, he added.
Expert in Maoist studies, Dr Rajat Kujur said the division is led by Modem Balakrishna and Nikhil, two most seasoned guerilla leaders of the Maoists. The division has its stronghold in south of Kalahandi and adjoining Rayagada regions. The CPI (Maoist) has been laying special emphasis on this division since past couple of years. Almost 10 blocks of Kalahandi are now under the shadow of this division and their activities need to be strategically monitored because geographically its clout runs over the volatile areas of Odisha- Chhattisgarh-Andhra border, he added.
Six Maoist aides surrender
Malkangiri: IN yet another sucess for the MV-79 based 91 battalion of BSF, six Maoist aides surrendered before Commandant KD Yadav at MV-79 on Saturday. They are four Village Committee Members (VCM) Soma Podiami, Soma Kabasi, Rama Podiami and Podia Madkami and two militia Jaga Kabasi and Deba Kabasi, said Yadav. They are natives of Rajulkonda village under MV-79 police limits and were providing logistic support to the rebels, he added. Later, the surrendered rebels were handed over to MV-79 police.