Villagers join anti-Maoist rally

They also talked to Bastar SP about ultras who take advantage of inter-State border to dodge forces

Inhabitants of more than ten villages of Mahupadar panchayat under Mathili block of Malkangiri district in Odisha attnding an anti-Maoist rally in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.- Photo: Special Arrangement

Despite the continuing terror tactics of Maoists, hundreds of inhabitants of remote pockets of Malkangiri district of Odisha are braving threats to attend the anti-Naxalite rallies organised in adjoining Chhattisgarh.

Large number of inhabitants of more than ten villages of Mahupadar panchayat under Mathili block of Malkangiri district attended a major anti-Maoist rally organised at Nama village in adjoining Chhattisgarh on January 21. They also reached out to Bastar Superintendent of Police (SP) R.N. Dash, who was at this rally to discuss about Maoists who take advantage of inter-State border to dodge security forces and are involved in exploitation of villagers living remote areas of Mathili block.

This anti-Maoist rally was attended by top police officials of Chhattisgarh. As Mr. Dash happens to be an Odia, the inhabitants of Malkangiri district preferred to discuss with him about menace of naxalites crossing inter-State border with violent motive. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Dash said people living in areas of Malkangiri district have close ties with inhabitants of bordering Chhatisgarh. In January this year, some Maoist elements from Tulsi area of Mathili block of Malkangiri district had preferred to surrender before the Bastar SP.

When contacted Malkangiri SP, Mitrabhanu Mohapatra confirmed that people from remote villages of Mathili block had attended the anti-Maoist rally in Chhatisgarh on their own. According to him people of this region of Malkangiri regularly visit markets in adjoining Chhatisgarh few kilometres away. “It hints that people living in remote pockets are frustrated with violent activities of Maoists and want to escape from this menace,” said Mr Mohapatra.

“Villagers of Tulsi, Mahupadar, Dundipadar and Kirmiti of Malkangiri district during interaction with me alleged that a female Maoist named Shaymla along with some other Maoists was torturing them. Shyamla was taking advantage of interstate border to dodge security personnel of both States,” said Bastar SP. He promised inhabitants of Odisha to take up initiatives to neutralise these leftist vagrants.