Maoist threat forces 30 people to desert homes in Malkangiri

Bhubaneswar: As many as 30 tribal people of five families deserted Dabuguda village in Malkangiri district on Tuesday due to Maoist threat. In the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, the tribals trekked the hilly terrain of around 40 kilometres braving the vagaries of nature and wild animals, to reach Kudumulugumma early in the morning.

“The rebels had threatened us to leave our village. Probably they suspected that we had informed the police about their presence and a scheduled meeting in Panasput area where 30 of them were killed by security forces in an encounter,” one of the villagers of Dabuguda said.

“We had no option but to leave the village,” he added.

Official sources said the families have been provided with temporary accommodation at the Kudumulugumma block office, till arrangements are made for their rehabilitation.

In April, around 33 tribal people of seven families had left Sanyasiguda village under Andrapalli panchayat in the cut-off region of the district due to threats of the Maoists.