Red shadow over motor launch service

MALKANGIRI:THE motor launch service in Chitrakonda reservoir, launched by the district administration, continues to be suspended with drivers refusing to ply them in the wake of Maoist fear.On October 16, a group of Maoists, led by CPI (Maoist) chief Sudhir and other leaders like Anil and Sarita, had hijacked a motor launch and took its driver hostage carrying grocery items for the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) forces in the cut-off region. The group hijacked the motor launch near Kathagada village and took it to Orapadar.

The motor launch was destined to reach Kunturpadar village — a village located under Jodamba gram panchayat of Chitrakonda block where the IRB unit is deployed. The launch was moving close to the banks of the reservoir when the Maoists, perched on hilltops, directed the driver to navigate the vessel to the shore at Kathagada. Soon, they took control of the launch. The rebels took driver Ghasi Pangi hostage for some hours and later assaulted him for carrying the grocery items for paramilitary personnel before setting him free. The hijacked launch is still in Maoist captivity.

 A week later on October 22, the Maoists gunned down a 45-year-old launch driver at Chitrakonda’s spill-way launch ghat in the presence of locals. After killing driver Sama Pangi, who also used to deliver provisions to the camp of the Border Security Force (BSF) located at Kunturpadar inside the reservoir, the Maoists sped away with the launch.

The district administration had launched eight 20-seater launches at Chitrakonda to connect the cut-off villages with the mainstream. Following these two incidents, plying of the six other launches have been suspended as drivers are apprehensive of Maoist violence.

However, four of the eight launches that are owned by the Balimela Dam Project continue to ply to cut-off areas. While two are under repair, the other launches are plying between Spilway-Jantri-Alampeka and Sindhiput on a daily basis. Launch services to Janbai is available on every alternative day.
 Sources said suspension of launches run by the district administration has put people in cut-off areas under trouble as those run by the Balimela Dam Project do not suffice to meet the requirement of the residents of cut-off areas.

Maoists ‘kidnap’ 4 youths

Rayagada: FOUR Scheduled Caste youths of Rayagada district have been reportedly kidnapped by Maoists. The youths are Tela Karkaria, Hara Takri, Bali Karkaria and Nepala Takri, all residents of Bada Denguni village under Munikhol panchayat of Muniguda block in the district. While the incident took place on Monday, it came to light on Wednesday. Rayagada and Muniguda police officials said they have not received any complaints in this regard and they got the information from unofficial sources on Wednesday. A few months back, the Maoists, under the banner of CPI(Maoist)  Rayagada area committee, had put up posters in the village warning some SC youths, who were working as police informers. In the posters, they had appealed to Dongria Kondhs and SCs to desist from supporting these youths. Sources said Tela’s name had figured in the posters. Police investigation is on.