Odishatv Bureau

A youth was killed when a landmine, suspected to have been laid by Maoists, went off near Sadingia- Kiamunda under Phiringia police limits in Kandhamal district in Odisha on Wednesday.

The incident reportedly took place today morning. The deceased has been identified as Priyaranjan Kanhar, a resident of Kiamunda.

The ultras had on Tuesday put up a poster and torched two JCB machines engaged in construction works near the blast site.

Apart from opposing developmental works in the region, the red rebels had also warned people to boycott the forthcoming Panchayat polls in the State.

Earlier on February 5, a journalist was killed in an explosion near Karlakhunta Bridge in Mohangiri area of Naxal-hit Kalahandi district.

Rohit Kumar Biswal, a resident of Madanpur-Rampur area and working as a reporter for a local newspaper, was covering news about the left wing extremists' warning to locals to boycott the Panchayat elections when the incident occurred.

Condolences poured in from all quarters over the tragic incident. People and political leaders cutting across party lines strongly condemned the Maoist violence.

Later, Odisha government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 13 lakh to the next of kin of the journalist.

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