The police and security forces have launched combing operations and are investigating into the Maoist mayhem in a railway station in Rayagada district in the wee hours ofFriday.
More than 20 Red rebels in two groups swooped down on the Daikallu railway station in Rayagada district and triggered explosions damaging the Station Master’s office and a goods train engine.
Trains passing through the Daikallu railway station in the district came to a halt due to the explosion. Many trains were diverted and some cancelled due to the incident.
The Station Master of Daikallu said 15 to 20 Maoists had arrived there at around 1:30 am and first ransacked his office. Then, they asked him to get out of the office, assuring him that they did not have intention to harm him. later, they triggered an explosion in the office with an improvised explosive device (IED) and snatched away the walkie-talkie from him.
The militants were conversing in Adivasi and Hindi languages. They said they oppose the Union Government and this incident is being carried out to protest Narendra Modi’s visit to the State on April 15 and 16.
Posters of the outlawed CPI(Maoists) were found at the railway station that protested appointment of non-Odias in senior police officers’ posts. The posters also mentioned that there are non-Odia jawans in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF).
The Maoists even protested appointment of non-Odia administrative officers. The non-Odia officers are exploiting and suppressing the people of Odisha, read the posters.
Meanwhile, DGP KB Singh said, “Such an incident has occurred for the first time in the State, and we are taking it seriously. The district Superintendent of Police and Special Operations Group (SOG) and CRPF personnel have rushed to the spot.”