Malkangiri: Bowing down to a praja court order issued by the ultras, eight families in the cut-off regions of Chitrakonda block left their ancestral land Friday midnight.
The Maoists threatened to kill them if they didn’t carry out the order, said the aggrieved families of Ramaguda village under Andrapalli panchayat, who left behind their land, houses and farm animals.
According to reports, Ramaguda is an inaccessible region of the block and is often visited by ultras. They hold prajameli and praja court here and collect food from the villagers. The ultras issued the order against these eight families alleging they were sharing information with BSF officials and helping the police administration.
A few months back, the left wing extremists (LWEs) had beaten a Sanyasiguda villager to death at a rehabilitation colony 500 meter from Kudumulugumma BSF camp. Another person from the colony was abducted and later killed.
The villagers of Sanyasiguda left the village after receiving threats from the Maoists and they were put up at the colony by the district administration.
Meanwhile, the panic-stricken families have been kept at a rehabilitation colony of Chitrakonda and given food and other assistance, superintendent of police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said. The LWEs, who have threatened the innocent tribals, would be identified soon and action would be taken against them, the SP added. He also asked other people who are involved in Maoist activities to return to the main stream of society.
The SP further said both the state and the Centre have conceived several development programmes for the tribals of the district but they are often spoiled by the ultras. The tribals have lost confidence in rebel groups and support the administration instead. While the development of the district is a priority with the administration, the ultras would also be dealt with strongly, Mohapatra said.
On the other hand, several families of Mathili and Kalimela blocks have also left their villages and took shelter at several places of the district, it was learnt. These people should be rehabilitated and given jobs for their livelihood, said the experts who have been dealing with the menace over the years.
Meanwhile, the praja court order has triggered panic among tribals of Kurub, Tekguda, Manyamkonda, Andrapali, Panasput, Jodamba, Ralegada villages under Kalimela and Chitrakonda blocks, a report said. PNN
