Malkangiri: Moved by the miserable plight of the people living in cut-off areas of Korukonda and Kudumulugumma blocks in Malkangiri district, DIG-south western range (SWR) S Saini Thursday visited the remote areas in a country boat, in a departure from protocol.
Saini embarked on the trip with the SP and other police officials without even wearing life jackets. Residents of the cut-off areas gave her a joyous welcome and welcomed her initiative to reach out to the people, while her brave decision caught many by surprise.
The DIG later held discussions with locals about their problems, spent time with the school students and also organised several meetings with the jawans to boost their confidence in fighting Maoists. Besides, she insisted on preparing a master plan for the development of the area and to intensify the anti-guerilla operations
More than 20,000 people of five panchayats have been living inside Chitrakonda reservoir for years. It is widely known that the areas have remained underdeveloped in the absence of proper connectivity. A few years back, then collector Vineel Krishna was abducted by the Maoists when he attempted to spearhead development of the region.
Since then, no government official has ever dared to visit the area resulting in the region becoming a hotbed of Maoist activity. This has forced hundreds of people to flee the area leaving behind their houses, ancestral land, agricultural land, cattle and other domestic animals to work as labourers in other parts of the district.
Such miserable conditions of the cut-off area residents made DIG Saini overlook government protocol and visit the area with a few officials to get a first-hand report, it was learnt.
The government had made registration of country boats and motorized boats and use of life jacket compulsory after the boat capsize incident in Hirakud dam two years ago. Many children were drowned in the mishap.
DIG Saini couldn’t be contacted for her comments on the inspection trip. PNN
