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Two CMAS activists killed in police firing

BERHAMPUR: Two members of the ‘Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS)’ were killed when police opened fire on them to prevent arms loot at the Narayanpatna police station in Koraput district on Friday afternoon.

Inspector in charge of the Narayanpatna police station, Jagabandhu Sahu also received a bullet in his leg while trying to save the fire arms from the activists of CMAS. Personnel of the Cobra battalion were rushed to the spot from Koraput town. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed at Narayanpatna to prevent escalation of tension.

Three companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are already deployed in the Narayanpatna block which is facing menace of CMAS and Maoists.

One of the two CMAS activists killed in the police firing was identified as K.Singhana. The identity of the other was yet to be ascertained. Their bodies were kept under tight security at the Narayanpatna police station.

Koraput district Collector Gadadhar Parida said the firing occurred around 2.45 pm. Some 300 CMAS activists had gheraoed the police station demanding removal of CRPF personnel from the area. They were opposed to the combing operation of security personnel against the Maoists.

It was alleged that they also entered into a scuffle with the CRPF personnel posted near the police station. Some CMAS members broke open the lock of the main gate of the police station and rushed inside. They tried to snatch an AK47 and an SLR rifle held by the sentries of the police station and run away. During this tussle to snatch the firearm, one rifle went off and the bullet hit the inspector in charge of the police station in his leg.

The sentries posted on the rooftop of the police station fired at the persons who were trying to escape snatching the firearms.

As per initial reports more than 20 rounds were fired. Two of the CMAS activists died on the spot.

Before this incident, miscreants had cut down trees to block the Bandhugaon-Narayanpatna road since morning.Recently people in different parts of Koraput district have started to unite against the CMAS activities.

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