Malkangiri: Notwithstanding the beefed up security in view of the Maoist ‘Shahid Saptah’ (Martyrs’ Week), the outlawed Red rebels had successfully organised a camp July 29 at Ralegada village on the Odisha-Andhra border to incite tribals against the Gurupriya bridge.
Barely a week has passed since then, Maoists once again organised a camp Saturday night in their last ditch effort to provoke local tribals against Gurupriya bridge that was recently inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This time, the meeting was held at Basaguda forest on the Odisha-Andhra border. Hundreds of people of nearly 10 to 12 villages attended the camp held under the leadership of Naxal leader Sudhir, sources said.
Apparently, the Red rebels are opposing the bridge alleging that it will act against the interests of the tribals in the cut-off region of Malkangiri. In fact, they seem to be having a hard time with the opening of the bridge across River Janbai due to deployment of CRPF jawans and security personnel. Besides, they fear that the tribals’ easy access to the other regions of the state may erode their base in the region.
Addressing the locals at the camp, the rebel leaders alleged that Gurupriya bridge will act against the tribals as it help the state government to plunder natural resources from the cut-off areas in the district. Maoist leader Sudhir led the gathering and, in his speech, condemned police encounters killing their cadres.
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