Maoists torch private bus in Malkangiri district, assault staff
(Representative image)
KORAPUT: Defying security measures, suspected Maoists torched a private bus in Malkangiri district — the worst rebel-hit district of the state — on Monday night, the fourth day of the ‘protest week’ being observed by the proscribed CPI (M) since January 25. There was no passenger in the bus at the time of the attack.Police said a group of suspected Maoists surrounded the bus, which was stationed at Komrapalli under Mathili police limits, and assaulted its staff before setting it ablaze around 8 pm.
The bus runs 150km between Motu to Komrapalli and halts for the night at the latter village. After assaulting the staff, the Maoists took the bus near Mundaguda and set it on fire. “The Maoists set the bus ablaze by drawing diesel from its fuel tank. They also took away the mobile phones of the staff,” said SP (Malkangiri) Jagmohan Meena.
The SP said Maoists belonging to the Dharva division of the proscribed outfit was suspected to be behind the offensive, but added that they were investigating all angles. “As the Dharva division of the CPI (Maoist) operates in the area, its involvement is suspected,” the SP said.
Sources said the incident had alarmed the villagers, as the Maoists struck the district after three months. The last rebel offensive in Malkangiri was in November 2018, when they had attacked a road construction vehicle.
Before organizing the protest week, the rebels had put up posters and banners in several areas of the district, urging the people to observe a bandh during the course of the week. The seven-day-long protest is being held to condemn the alleged police excess on tribals in the guise of combing operations and the reported negligence of both the state and Centre towards the tribal and the downtrodden.
Monday’s incident, in which a bus was targeted by the Left-wing rebels in the district, is the second of its kind in the past five years. On December 11, 2013, the Maoists had torched a bus in broad daylight near Telrai Chhack, situated at a distance of about 50 kilometres from the district headquarters town, while it was plying its regular route from Motu to Kalimela. The rebels had set the bus on fire alleging that it was transporting materials for security forces.
With the general election round the corner, the Maoists have stepped up activity in the district. They are holding “Praja Meli” (public meetings) in the swabhiman area (earlier known as the cut-off region), urging people to boycott the forthcoming polls. According to sources, top Maoist leaders, including Ramana, are campaigning in the Ralegada panchayat situated in the swabhiman area and have conducted at least two back-to-back public meetings since Sunday. Apart from the Red cadres of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the meetings are being attended by hundreds of villagers. “The developments in the swabhiman area are being closely monitored and necessary action will be taken,” the SP said.
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