Two killed by Maoists in Odisha

22 September, 2012

A ward member and a trader were killed by the Maoists who suspected them to be police informers in different places in Odisha. Such ruthless killing has created dissatisfaction among locals and also some members of the Naxalite factions.

THE WARD member Ruidsgunda was shot dead by the Maoists of Manipur Divisional Committee at Rajapara village under Khuduku Gram Panchayat under Rayaghar block in Nawarangpur District. The Maoists called the Ruidsgunda outside from his house in the afternoon on Thursday last. As he came out, they tied his hands and dragged him to the near by forest area and shot him dead.

In another incident, a group of about twenty five armed rebels, including a woman, barged into the house of Satar Khan, a trader, at Nangalbeoard village in Sinapalli area of Nuapada district on Wednesday last and killed him with sharp weapons.

A small of piece of paper left in both the places claimed responsibility by the Maoists for killing them as they were passing information related to the movement of Naxals to the police. The Maoists justified the killing in the name of the killed being police informers - who are detrimental to their cause.

Such killings have become common in Odisha and other Naxal-affects states in central and north east India. At the same time, there is disagreement over this tactic used by the Maoists to silence opposition and spread fear among locals to not to collaborate with the locals.