Malkangiri: Even as the Odisha Police continues to claim big success on largely suppressing the Maoist insurgency in the Swabhiman Anchal in Chitrakonda block of Malkangiri, reports of 85 families in the region leaving their home fearing threat to life from the left wing extremists has come as a shocker.
As per reports, no less than 85 families from villages under Panasput, Jodamba, Andarapali and Nakamamudi and some other gram panchayats have left their ancestral property to take refuge in an orchard at Rajulkonda.
While, comments from the district authorities are yet to come, the displaced locals have demanded immediate government intervention in this regard.
"We were scared to live in our own village and used to stay up all night fearing attack from the Maoists. But finally we decided to leave village when we could not bear any more of this fear," said a local.
"We are ready to work as daily wagers here but, we cannot go back to our home," he added.
One of his fellow villagers said, "We do not have land of our own. We urge the government to help us in any way possible."
It is worthwhile to mention here Odisha DGP Abhay's comments last December when he claimed that the state police have brought over 80 per cent area of Maoist hotbed in Malkangiri district under police cover.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)