Fearing Maoists, about 60 tribal families of cut-off region in Malkangiri district left their village and sought security from the district administration on Wednesday. The tribal families of Andrapalli and Panasput villages under Kudumuluguma block met Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in his office and requested him to provide them adequate protection against the Maoists.
The panic-stricken villagers said the Maoists had killed two villagers a few days ago suspecting them to be police informers and set several houses on fire. They also said they have been forced to leave their village as the Maoists have been torturing innocent tribals and threatening to kill them.
Mohapatra said they have taken steps to ensure their protection. “The district administration will take up the matter with the government soon,” he added. Meanwhile, the police in consultation with the district administration have decided to rehabilitate these runaway tribals. On the other hand, the Maoist leaders, in a release, have alleged that the police have tactfully taken away these tribals from their homeland.