Tribal SPO missing for more than a month

Nabarangpur: A tribal Special Police Officer (SPO) has been missing for more than a month in Orissa`s Maoist-hit Nabarangpur district and his fate is unknown, police sources said today. The disappearance of Dasmanth Gond (21) of Raghudongori village under Maoist infested Raighar Block, came to light on Saturday, they said.

Gond was selected for SPO in 2009 and working on contractual basis then. He had earlier worked under Raighar and Umerkote police stations, but some months back he was placed to Nabarangpur police station.

Gond was to join for training at Koraput last month. In the first week of last month he went to his village for `Nua Khai` festival. He was scheduled to report for training at Koraput on September 14.

According to his family members Gond left home saying proceeding for training on his motor cycle. But when he was not found at the training centre at Koraput some of his friends telephoned the family members and informed them. Gonds family members then went to Raighar police station and reported the matter. The motor-cycle of Gond was found at Hatabharandi village yesterday, they said.

Superintendent of Police, Niti Sekhar admitted Gond was in service on contractual basis and he had not reported at the training centre on the schedule date. The SP said the SPO was missing since then and the police have no further information about him.