Village chief survives Maoist attack

MALKANGIRI :  The village head of Silakota within Podia police limits received grievous bullet injuries after being shot at by Maoists on Sunday night. He was identified as 45-year-old Mangulu Wanjami. Suspecting Mangulu to be a police informer, a group of eight to 10 armed rebels broke into his house late in the night and fired three rounds from a 9mm pistol at the village chief. He received bullet injuries on his right side thigh. A critically hurt Mangulu was initially rushed to Podia community health centre by villagers on a bike and later, shifted to the district headquarters hospital.

Hospital sources informed that the village head is now out of danger and surgery is likely to be conducted to remove the bullet from his thigh. Villagers of Silakota found live and empty cartridges, a torch, a water bottle and other materials from the crime spot, police said and added that the attackers fled soon after firing at Mangulu. Mangulu has reportedly figured in the hit list of Maoists ever since 13 youths of Silakota village were killed in an encounter by police in 2013.

3 fake rebels arrested KORAPUT: Police arrested three fake Maoists in Bandhugaon here on Monday. Sources said a contractor, identified as S Murali Krishna of Parlakhemundi in Gajapati, along with two local youths, Talan Huka and Loknath Pangi of Kelubeda village in Naryanpatna block, was allegedly involved in extortion of money in the name of Maoists. Krishna had sent a letter using the fake stamp of CPI (Maoist) organisation to another contractor demanding `20 lakh in January. On being informed about the matter, Koraput SP laid a trap and police caught Krishna redhanded while accepting the extortion money from the victim contractor. Notably, Krishna was allegedly involved in burning two machines engaged in Sormula road cons