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Resurgence in Maoist activities in Odisha poses challenge to police

While rebel activities were confined to Malkangiri, their movement in Kandhamal has posed new challenge for the police.

Bhubaneswar: After a brief lull, Maoists seem to be regrouping in various pockets of Odisha. The killing of a government employee in Kandhamal district on Sunday and reported movement of rebels in Narasinghpur jungle of Cuttack district have come as a major headache for the state police.

While rebel activities were confined to south Odisha districts of Malkangiri, the movement in Kandhamal, a central part of the state and coastal Cuttack district, has posed new challenge for the police.

Reports on Wednesday said at least 10 armed rebels were seen by villagers in Narasinghpur forest under Athagarh sub-division.

“We have got information that at least 10 rebels were sighted in Narasinghpur area and we are verifying the fact,” said inspector general (IG) Soumendra Priyadarshi.

On Sunday, the rebels belonging to Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali division had killed a ‘Gaon Sathi’ (a village level government worker) of Durgapanga village in Kandhamal district after holding him in captivity for two days.

The rebels said Gaon Sathi Basant Bhatta was killed as he was working as police informer.

For the last three years, Kandhamal had recorded no Maoist violence while this is for the first time rebels were sighted in Cuttack district, close to capital city Bhubaneswar.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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