In a new turn of events, a Maoist was stoned to death and another was injured by locals at Janturai village under the Papermetla police limits in Malkangiri district in the intervening night of January 25-26.
A group of about 25 armed Maoists had come to the village and warned the villagers not to celebrate Republic Day and also to oppose road construction works in the area.
The Red rebels also opened blank fire to terrorise the villagers.
In their courageous retaliation, the villagers pelted stones at the Maoists leaving one of them dead on the spot.
The deceased ultra was identified as Ganga Madhi alias Adma, a native of Kalimela. He was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head. The injured Maoist Jipro Hatrika alias Jitra, a native of Narayanpatna in Koraput district, was ACM of the ultras’ Guma Area Committee and was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head.
On the other hand, the Maoists being enraged with the death of a colleague and the opposition from the locals, set fire to 10 houses in Janturai village before fleeing from the spot. Security personnel launched a combing operation in the area to nab the ultras.
Notably, while people in the cutoff areas of Malkangiri district are now increasingly realising that the Maoists are the stumbling block for their development, they are trying to oppose them.
Common people, who were supporting the Maoists out of fear, are now happy that the Government has expedited a development process in the district’s Swabhiman Anchal. This has enraged the Maoists, who are targeting innocent civilians.
Officials feel that a twin strategy of filling up security vacuum and expediting development process will not only empower the civilians but also eliminate fear of Maoists among the people.