After six years, the widows of three SOG jawans of Jharsuguda district, who were killed confronting Maoists, have not been given any Government land in spite of official declarations to this effect.
According to sources, Balaram Pradhan, Dipaksen Bhoi and Umakant Naiak of Jharsuguda district were sent to Gajpati and Koraput district to fight against Maoists. Balaram of Kudopali village under Brajrajnagar police limits and Dipaksen of Saraipali in Jharsuguda district joined on June 4, 2008 in 2nd Indian Reserve Battallion at Cuttack. After getting necessary SOG training, they were posted in Gajpati district. Both of them were killed on March 23, 2010 late night after severely fighting with the ultras in Ambajhari forest, Parlakhemundi. likewise, Umakanta of Sahaspur Ramchipdihi village under laikera block was posted to Koraput district. Umakanta was killed in a blast.
State Revenue and Disaster Mitigation Department on April 5, 2010 had declared to give Government land to the kin of those killed in Mao combat. It said those killed before 2010 will be eligible to get 10 decimal land in rural areas and four decimal land in urban sectors. Accordingly, the three martyr families applied for allotment of
Government land in their favour. But, the martyr families are very much doubtful about getting any such land.