Forces on alert as Martyrs’ Week to begin today
Continuing their grisly act of violence, Maoists killed a tribal man of Bandhugaon area in Koraput district late on Saturday night suspecting him to be a police informer.
The deceased was identified as Komana Kadraka of Dasini village under the Bandhugaon police limits in the district.
According to reports, a group of 20 armed Maoists barged into the house of Kadraka and dragged him out of the house after locking his wife inside it. They took him to the village end where they brutally slit his throat. On Sunday morning, the villagers discovered the body. Police rushed to the spot and seized a letter found near the body.
The letter duly signed by Koraput-Srikakulam Divisional Committee secretary Daya said Kadraka was killed because he was working for the police. In the letter, the Maoist leader said that people should support the Martyrs’ Week and movement led by tribals to get their land back.
Meanwhile, the security forces have intensified a combing operation in the area. As the Martyrs’ Week will start from Monday, the security forces are on their toes to keep strict vigil on the activities of the ultras in the district.
Sources said the security forces have started combing operations in the forests of Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Pattangi area of Koraput and some thick forest areas of Malkangiri district.
On repeated attacks by Maoists on innocent tribals, South Western Range IG YK Jethwa said the Red rebels are killing the poor tribals out of frustration. The Maoists are making the tribals their soft target, after their influence has been largely decimated in the State, he added.