Malkangiri: The Maoists gunning down a person at the launch ghat of Chitrakonda of this district Sunday has spread panic among 32 families that have been living in a rest shed under polythene sheets for the past one year.
The families, fearing a backlash, had left their ancestral land, farmland and farm animals after 30 ultras were killed October 24 in a police encounter near Ramaguda village in Panasput panchayat under Chitrakonda block.
They sought protection from the administration and didn’t go back to their village fearing attack from Maoists.
Even as the police claimed to have curbed the violent activities of Maoists after the encounter, the killing of Sama Pangi at Chitrakonda in broad daylight at a crowded place made mockery of it.
On the other hand, the administration has put up the scared villagers under some polythene covered sheds and provides them a few kilos of rice every month in the name of rehabilitation, the villagers said.
They don’t rely any more on the administration for their safety after Sunday’s incident, Ram Khara, Jagu Galori and Daimati Khara said.
The ultras had been challenging the government since the October 24 encounter of last year and have finally succeeded in terrorising the people by killing Pangi accusing him to be a police informer.
While the increasing violent activities ahead of Chitrakonda block election has robbed the security personnel of their sleeps, superintendent of police Jagamohan Meena asked the people living in sheds and those who surrendered to remain alert.
Maoist cadres seem to have changed their style of aggression and adopted new technologies to challenge the security forces, said ex-ultras who surrendered before the police.
Top ultra Sukdel along with his wife and other rebels including Ram Kabasi, Willy Madkami, Some Sodi, Dev Madhi, Waga Kabasi, Bedinge, Deva Padiami, Meri Karnem, Sumitra Madmi and Yogi Madkami had surrendered before the police at different times after October 24 encounter last year.
While 24 ultras including seven women were killed on the spot, a jawan of Andhra Pradesh died and another sustained critical injuries during a joint combing by Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhound and Special Operation Group jawans of Orissa.
Top Mao leaders Daya, Ganesh and Muna were among the deceased. Police had also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition and Rs 2.16 lakh in cash from the camp, the then SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra had told media.
Later, the death toll of ultras went up to 30 while some locals were missing, it was learnt. PNN
