BHUBANESWAR/RAYAGADA/BHAWANIPATNA: Left wing extremists on Tuesday killed a tribal villager of Rayagada for declining to withdraw a minor rape case against member of a local organisation which they allegedly support.
Mali Pushika, who belonged to the primitive tribe Dongoria Kondha, was kidnapped by the Maoists two days ago along with Mandru Pushika from Salphajhola village under Muniguda police limits. On a day when State Police top brass gathered at Bhawanipatna to discuss strategies to contain Left Wing Extremists (LWE) movement in the region, body of Mali, with his throat slit, was found. Mandru, however, was freed.
Police said, Mali was receiving calls from the Maoists who wanted him to withdraw a rape case which he had registered against one Bari Pidikaka, supposed to be a member of Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti. Bari was charged with rape of Mali’s minor niece. The accused was arrested last year and is behind bars.
Rayagada SP Siva Subramani said, Mali had refused to withdraw the case which is why he was receiving threat calls from the Maoists. Mali had even gone to Muniguda police station a couple of days back. This apparently left the rebels furious. On Sunday, the Red rebels abducted both Mali and Mandru. While Mali was brutally killed, Mandru was released with warnings of dire consequences if he continued to be a police informer.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police KB Singh visited Bhawanipatna where he convened a meeting to review the counter-Maoist strategies for the Rayagada-Kalahandi axis. IG (Operations) RP Koche, DIG, South Western Range S Shyni and Kalahandi SP Brijesh Rai were present.
Sources said, State Police is planning wholesome changes in the counter-extremist strategies in view of the resurgence of the rebels and their movements. More Central para military forces could be mobilised in the region to flush out the Maoists. On March 15, the ultras had gone on a rampage in Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi where they had abducted three villagers. Two days later, one of them was killed.