Malkangiri: The CPI (Maoists) of Malkangiri division today observed a 12-hour bandh in the district protesting against recent surrenders of rural Naxalite supporters and militias in this Naxal-infested region. In view any untoward incident, police have tightened the security deploying adequate forces at senstive points. Security forces have frisked the vehicles at many places.
Maoist posters are found at many places in Kalimela areas of the district. Maoist posters are found at many places in Kalimela areas of the district. A poster at Kalyansinghpur threatened death sentence for three persons. It has directed Utkal Alumina vice president S Satyanarayan to appear before praja court. Similarly, two villagers of Sikarpai have been threatened.
The outlawed outfit claimed that police forcefully lifted the innocent people and branded them as naxal supporters. Those, who surrendered before police recently, were not involved in any Maoist activities, a release issued by committee secretary Punam Chand said, adding government has failed to rehabilitate surrendered extremists properly. The release further claimed that police are misleading gullible villagers with false promises while Maoist organisation is fighting for legitimate rights of the poor tribals.
Commuters across the district have faced a hard time reach their destinations as the vehicular communication was disrupted due to the strike.
The rebels outfit is gradually losing its base in the major naxal zone while the forces have become more active after DGP visit to the district.
Since August 31, more than 700 Maoist supporters including 123 militias have surrendered before Malkangiri SP. All of them were from remote villages in Mathili block that borders Naxal-infested areas of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.