TV
Fresh tensions have erupted along the Odisha-Andhra border in Gajapati district, as Andhra Pradesh officials allegedly conducted unauthorised surveys and offered lucrative welfare schemes to local villagers, aiming to assimilate them, sources said on Wednesday.
Odisha authorities are now investigating and mobilising a response.
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According to sources, in a fresh breach of protocol, officials from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh have reportedly entered Odisha territory in the Gangabada region of Gajapati district, triggering allegations of territorial overreach and coercive tactics.
These officials allegedly conducted land surveys and offered attractive welfare schemes to tribal villagers, aiming to woo them into affiliating with Andhra Pradesh.
Residents of border villages such as Amaringi and Manikapatana in Rayagada block revealed that Andhra officials promised various benefits, including concrete housing, educational assistance for children, free gas cylinders, financial aid for farmers, and free bus services.
Officials allegedly warned villagers to evacuate their government-allotted homes built under Odisha’s disaster relief and housing schemes, or face demolition, asserting that the land belongs to Andhra Pradesh.
The local sarpanch (village head) has criticised the district and block administrations for neglecting the region and demanded immediate intervention.
Meanwhile, Gajapati district administration, upon learning of the unauthorised activities by Andhra, rushed to the affected areas. Local Sub-Collector and tehsildar visited the villages, interacting with locals and assessing the situation on the ground zero.
Villagers from Gangabada panchayat have alleged that Andhra Pradesh is exploiting the simplicity and poverty of tribal residents, attempting to assimilate them into their mainland through misinformation and coercion.
In response, locals urged both the Odisha and Andhra governments to initiate formal border demarcation to prevent further conflicts.
Amid the rising tensions, the Odisha administration is under pressure to take firm action and deliver a strong response to Andhra Pradesh’s repeated intrusions.
“After reaching the spot, we found that they (Andhra officials) are threatening the residents. They have been troubling the locals and are claiming that the locality belongs to Andhra,” Paralakhemundi Sub-Collector, Anup Kumar Panda, stated.
“We verified this area from the revenue map to be part of Odisha. We had previously carried out infrastructure development works in this region,” the Odisha official added.
Reported By: Adarsh Das
