Heavy exchanges of fire took place between the Maoists and security forces on Tuesday at about 9.45 am while a combing operation was on in lakhpadara village in Niyamagiri hill range under Kalyan Singhpur police limits.
The ultras exploded a landmine on the way of the security forces targeting them with an intention to restrain the combing operation. Fortunately, however, the security forces escaped the blast.
The firing lasted for around 45 minutes. The Maoists fled the area taking advantage of hills and forests. During search, two kit bags of Maoists containing their daily usable items, medicines, uniforms, five rounds of live ammunitions, one tiffin carrier bomb, Maoists literature, Odia learning books, etc were recovered from the spot, said SP K Siva Subramani and DSP Y Jagannath Rao while briefing the Press.
Recently, the district administration, for the first time, was able to provide electricity in Parsali, a Gram Panchayat in the Niyamagiri range. In the presence of senior officials, a bus under Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana was flagged from Rayagada to Parsali. It is interesting to note that lada Sikaka, the forefront tribal leader of Niyamagiri Surakshya Samiti, inhabits in village lakhpadara. Under his leadership, Dangaria tribals and their supporters resisted the Vedanta proposed mining in the area. Recently on Republic Day, the Maoists exhibited posters in Parsali, a village close to lakhpadara and requested the public not to observe the day. They also mentioned about Government providing security to Vedanta company by deploying huge police force as a new tactic. In a similar way, they urged
each village in Niyamagiri to constitute a Niyamagiri Sena to save their movement and identity.
“The situation is becoming really complex. A third party believing in non-violence must study the extent of violence committed by both sides and come out with suggestive measures,” opined State Bhoodan Yagna Samiti secretary Gouranga Mohapatra.