KORAPUT: A sense of calm, thanks to increasing patrolling activities by security forces, and fast-paced development are changing the contours of swabhimaan anchal in Chitrakonda block in Odisha’s southern-most district of Malkangiri.
The Maoists, who for so long had treated this formerly cut-off area as their ‘liberated zone’, are losing ground in the region; so much so that a group of villagers have now mustered the courage to defend their village from the rebels.
Armed with their traditional bows and arrows, the residents of Khajuriguda have taken to guarding the entrances of their village 24X7 to prevent any rebel from sneaking in under the cover of darkness.
“Earlier, we would fear the Maoists and were unable to oppose them. The establishment of security camps in the region, and frequent anti-Maoist combing operations, has led to a sense of security among us. We want to make our area free of Left-wing extremism. We want development,” said a Khajuriguda resident.
The villagers said male members of the village were taking turns to guard it. “Four to six villagers guard the entry points of the village during the day. At night, nearly 15 villagers are on duty,” said the resident.
“We have realised that Maoists pose an obstruction to development. Owing to their presence, development had taken a back seat in our village. Now we want to cooperate with police and the administration for the overall development of the region. We want to see better roads, schools and hospitals in our area,” said another villager.
Police, however, cautioned the villagers against taking the law into their hands. “Tribal residents often carry their traditional weapons as a symbolic show of strength. There are adequate security personnel in the swabhimaan anchal to combat LWE,” said DIG (south-western range) Shafeen Ahamed K.
The DIG said BSF camps had been set up at Gurasethu, Janbai, Bodopada, Jantapai, Hantalguda and Jodambo in the swabhimaan anchal in the past few months.
Also, a police station has been made functional at Jodambo since June.
“Our operations against the Maoists have intensified in the past few months. We have strengthened police-public relations too,” the DIG said, adding that Maoists should surrender to lead a dignified life.