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Narayanpatna: police see naxal hand

BERHAMPUR: Remote pockets of Koraput district especially the areas of Naryanpatna block are fast slipping out of the reach of the administration and police.

It is the Maoists who are at again by this. The landmine blast that killed nine policemen near Naraynpatna on Thursday hinted at the upper hand of the naxals in the area. This killing came while it was being tried to open up road communication to Narayanpatna which had remained blocked for over three days due to activities of the Maoists and a newly formed outfit Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS).

Although the CMAS activists deny the link yet the police officials in Koraput district like the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Uddhab Nayak claim the CMAS is working hand in hand with the Maoists. Recently the Maoists declared their support to the activities of the CMAS. The CMAS has made the area tense and volatile due to its tirade against non-tribals over allegations of land grabbing by deceit and liquor trade.

These are the issues also being promoted by Maoists to gain base in the area as only 15 per cent of the population are non-tribals who own majority of the land in the area.

Since May three nurseries of Forest Department have been destroyed in Narayanpatna block.

The CMAS had destroyed two nurseries at Musulimunda and Ambaguda while two days back Maoists destroyed one at Odiapentha. They alleged that these nurseries meant for afforestation work were catalysts to take over land used by tribals for generations. The attacks of the CMAS have led to mass exodus of non-tribals from villages of the Narayanpatna block whom the Maoists always alleged to be police informers. Maoists had also tried to disrupt elections through poll boycott call in the area.

Maoists consider Naryanpatna block to be a strategic location for their ‘Red Corridor’. It is a key transit zone of naxals between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Naryanpatna is close to naxal infested Makau police station area in Andhra Pradesh. Naxals from Andhra Pradesh on their way to Malkangiri district usually reach the Narayanpatna area from Makau.

Then they travel via Kutia, Pottangi, and Padua in Koraput district to reach Visakhapatnam rural sector, which is linked to the remote areas of Malkangiri district . Increasing hold over Narayanpatna block, the Maoists are trying to simplify their communication between naxal infested areas in Andhra Pradesh, with Koraput and Malkangiri districts .

Along with it the Maoists are trying to increase their clout in Koraput district for better protection of their Red Corridor.

The attack on Nalco mines near Damanjodi in April and recent attacks on two police stations and a police outpost in the district on June 7 night has hinted at the intentions of Maoists. There are reports that around 200 locals were recruited by the naxals to strengthen their newly born Machkund dalam under Koraput-Malkangiri Maoists division.

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Narayanpatna: police see naxal hand

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