n The district administration on Friday closed the weekly Jantapai market and clamped Section 144 of CrPC in the area to prevent holding of any public meeting by tribals who are demanding arrest of the people responsible for the alleged killing of a local youth.
The administration took the decision when hundreds of armed tribals congregated at Jantapai market to vent their protest against security personnel, whom they blame for the youth’s death.
Adequate numbers of security personnel were deployed while a drone kept vigil on the tense situation to prevent any further flare-up.
Notably, the youth Raju had allegedly been taken away by two unidentified men while he had gone to buy groceries with his two daughters on September 13. Later, he was found dead with multiple injuries on his body in the kitchen of an Anganwadi Centre near Jantapai village.
Following the incident, Raju’s family members refused to accept his body while blaming BSF jawans for his death. Locals also staged a demonstration by placing the dead body in front of the Papermetla police station and indulged in heavy brick-batting and attacked police personnel. It might be mentioned that the Jantapai area is a stronghold of Maoists. And from the organised manner in which the protests are being held by tribals, it is suspected that the Red rebels are instigating the locals against the security forces.