Orissa Timeline 2009

Date

Incidents

January 2

Sabyasachi Panda, secretary of the Vansadhara Committee of the CPI-Maoist, in a statement said there was no splinter group in their party called M-2 as there had been no split in the organisation. The statement was received by some media organisations in an audio-tape.

Two threat letters supposedly written by Maoists were received by seven persons, including the village assembly president of Patarpada village in the Dhenkanal District.

Normal life was paralysed in Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam Districts due to a 12-hour general shutdown call given by 'M2', described as a splinter group of the Maoists. While Gajapati District was partially affected, the shutdown call had little effect in Ganjam, official sources said.

CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead a trader, identified as Kalivarapa Kanta Rao, at Almonda village under Narayanpatna Police Station in the Koraput District suspecting him to be a Police informer.

Kui Samiti, an association of tribals of Kandhamal District, came out in support of the M2. "The M2 has pledged to oppose those who are exploiting tribals while Maoists like Sabyasachi Panda have sided with a section of the minorities," said Samiti leader Lambodar Kanhar. "We welcome all those who stand by the tribals," he added. On the other hand Maoists issued posters in Rayagada District declaring that M2 was not a splinter of their organisation and that those who support or join M2 will be taken to task. The Maoist posters also demanded release of two persons arrested by Rayagada Police for carrying INR 1.2 millions ostensibly meant to pay Maoist groups as protection money.

A left-wing extremist group called 'Jharkhand Badshah' entered a brick kiln at Raichhapala in Sundargarh District on Orissa-Jharkhand border and asked the manager to pay INR One million within 24 hours. The group, which had about eight members armed with pistols, also threatened the manager with dire consequences if its demand was not met or the Police was informed.

17 out of the 30 Districts of Orissa are affected by left-wing extremist violence at present, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said at a meeting of the Chief Ministers of seven Maoist-affected States at New Delhi. While Patnaik claimed that his Government had taken a series of measures to contain the insurgency, he said that there was an upsurge in Maoist violence during 2008. The Chief Minister requested the Centre to provide a dedicated helicopter to Orissa for aerial reconnaissance of Maoist-affected areas and for evacuation of injured troops and quick movement of the Security Forces. He also requested the Centre for deployment of six more battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force in the Maoist-affected Districts to effectively control the problem.

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist shot dead a businessman, identified as Bhogi Ramesh, at Ketalpeta in the Koraput District suspecting him to be a Police informer.

The State Government received 7000 AK-47 rifles and more than 100,000 live bullets under the Police modernisation plan. These weapons will reportedly be given to the Special Operation Group and various Police battalions. A senior Police official said that if need arises some Police Stations in the left-wing extremist-affected area will also be provided with the weapons. He added that the State is expecting to receive INSAS rifles, bullet proof jackets and helmets shortly.

A faxed message from the Central Committee of the CPI-Maoist received by sections of the media in Orissa claimed to have expelled Sabyasachi Panda, secretary of the Vansadhara Committee of the CPI-Maoist, from the party for anti-party activities. The faxed message that contains detailed explanation for the action includes the killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati which ignited a communal strife in the Kandhamal District as one of the reasons.

One person, identified as Sudam Paikray alias Bulu, a resident of Sanashialimal under Daitari Police Station in the Keonjhar District, was injured when the CPI-Maoist cadres attacked him. The Maoists had earlier threatened him of dire consequence through many posters.

Seeking doubling of Central force deployment in extremist-infested areas of the State during the consultation meeting of the Commission on Centre State Relationship (CCSR) in Bhubaneswar, the Orissa Government described the left-wing extremist problem to be "much bigger" than cross-border terrorism. As the problem was serious, it was unjustified to leave the responsibility of tackling the menace on the State Government alone, Orissa Panchayati Raj Minister Raghuath Mohanty said, while presenting the State's case favouring a two-fold increase in deployment of Central forces in the CPI-Maoist infested areas. He said, "In many ways, Naxal (left-wing extremist) problem is much bigger than cross border terrorism...Therefore, the nation should tackle it with the same degree of seriousness as in case of terrorism. It was shocking to find that the Centre reduced the funds meant for modernisation of Police in Orissa." The Minister also said that the amount had come down to INR 350 million from previous year's allocation of INR 600 million. He added that it has become difficult to arrange executing agencies and contractors to implement road connectivity works in Maoist affected Districts. He also mentioned that the Maoists try to ensure that no connectivity programme was implemented in tribal areas which have turned into havens for the outlawed outfits. "Executing agencies and contractors are unwilling to work in Naxal-infested Districts", he said, adding, efforts to provide road connectivity to all such areas had failed.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist shot dead a village guard, identified as Mangala Khilla, at Karkatpali village under Kalimela Police Station area in the Malkangiri District suspecting him to be a Police informer. Two armed Maoists dragged Khilla out of his home and took him to the nearby forest where they shot him dead. A Police official said Khilla was on the Maoists' hit list.

Two Naxalites (left-wing extremists), identified as Chakradhar Haiburu (junior) and one of his associates Paresh Mahanto, wanted in many crimes, were arrested from the residence of a functionary of the Janashakti faction of the CPI-ML-Janashakti in capital Bhubaneswar by the Jajpur District Police. Haiburu is a close associate of the CPI-Maoist leader Anna Reddy.

Five cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested during a joint combing operation by a team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Orissa State Armed Police at Srirampur village in the Rayagada District. The Maoists, believed to be from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, were identified as Kudingi Ganapathi, P. Venkataraman, P. Chiranjivi, P. Gouri and Beda Chalapati. They were wanted in connection with a number of offences, including a landmine blast, at Gunupur area of Rayagada District in 2002 in which six CRPF personnel were killed, the Police said.

A preliminary chargesheet was filed at a court in Kandhamal in the case relating to the killing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. In the chargesheet, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reiterated its claim that a group of CPI-Maoist cadres were involved in the murder. According to the chargesheet, a group of assailants, armed with AK-47 and INSAS rifles, attacked the Jalespeta ashram (hermitage) during Janmasthami (a Hindu festival) celebrations on August 23, 2008, and shot dead the 82-year-old monk. They also killed Kishore Baba (45), Amritananda Baba (62), Mata Bhaktimayee (40), all of them ashram inmates, and Puranjan Ganthi (28), brother of one of the girl inmates of the tribal residential school. However, the conspiracy to kill Swami had been hatched in December 2007, said CID sources. "We are looking for 150 more people. Investigations will continue and we may file a final chargesheet," said a senior CID official. Superintendent of Police of the Crime Branch, Yatindra Koyal, said that the Maoist hand was clear from the evidence. He said "This is a preliminary chargesheet. The case is open. More facts will come out in the course of further investigation and trials."

Two counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism schools would be set up in Orissa to train Police personnel to fight the growing threat of terrorism. "One of the proposed counter-insurgency schools would be set up in Koraput, while the location of the other is yet to be decided," State Home Secretary Aditya Padhi told reporters in Bhubaneswar. A proposal of the State Government for establishment of the schools has been approved by the Centre, a senior officer said.

CPI-Maoist cadres severely assaulted the Sarpanch (chief) of the Malavaram Gram Panchayat (village level self-government institution), Gjendra Bandara, for taking up repairing work of village roads under Kalimela Block in the Malkangiri District. The Maoists also pasted posters at different places in Telarai, MPV-77, Manyabkunda, Rajaikund, MV-79 and Motu areas in the way from Kalimela to Motu threatening contractors not to take up road repairing work. Through these posters, Maoists also threatened all those who are eligible to join Special Operation Group (SOG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) not to join these forces unless one of the family members also joins the Maoist camp.

An unspecified number of CPI-Maoist cadres destroyed over 60 percent of the Panchayat (village level self-government institution) office building of Badigata village in the Malkangiri District.

The Orissa Government officials admitted before a visiting Central Government team that nearly half of the Plan expenditure in the left-wing extremism-affected Districts is cornered by the Maoists.

Local residents of Nayagarh captured one person and handed him over to the Police suspecting him to be a CPI-Maoist cadre. However, two of his associates escaped, Superintendent of Police J. N. Pankaj said.

13 Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel were injured in a CPI-Maoist-triggered landmine blast at Andhari Ghati near Adaba Police Station in the Gajapati District. The SOG personnel were travelling to Katama village in a minibus where they had organised a health camp to increase their relationship with the villagers.

A group of 40 CPI-Maoist cadres attacked a beat house of the forest department at Barda of Phulbani forest division in the Kandhamal District. They ransacked the forest beat house and looted two guns, one pistol and INR 100,000 in cash.

A Maoist, identified as Sunil Tirkey of Alighati village in the Sambalpur District, surrendered before the Police in Sambalpur. Tirkey had joined the CPI-Maoist in 2006 and was wanted in various criminal cases, including abduction of four forest department personnel, from Redhakhol area of the District.

The State Government asked the Forest and Excise Departments to surrender their arms in the wake of intelligence revelation that Maoists were targeting them.

The Central Committee of the CPI-Maoist has revoked the expulsion of Sabyasachi Panda, a member of the state organisation committee of the outfit. It is believed that the decision was taken to successfully execute 'Plan Kandhamal', the plan to 'take over' Kandhamal District along with intensifying activities in the Malkanigiri, Gajapati and Rayagada Districts when the State becomes 'busy' in general election. However, Panda has been reportedly warned not to take 'interest' in the upcoming general elections.

A group of approximately 70 CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the house of a contractor, B.K. Swain, at Govindpali village in the Malkangiri District and shot him dead. The Maoists also blew up his house besides setting ablaze four vehicles. Later, the Maoists set ablaze a Police outpost and blew up a mobile phone tower of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in the same village.

The CPI-Maoist cadres blew up two railway Stations on the Howrah-Mumbai and Rourkela-Barasuan section in the Sundergarh District. While one group of around 70 Maoists, including some women, blew up the Bhalulata railway Station, another group of Maoists attacked the railway Station at Chandiposh on Rourkela-Barasuan section. Maoists also abducted two railway officials from Chandiposh.

A group of around 50 Maoists attacked a construction site at Jingiriguda village under Bamunigaon Police Station in the Kandhamal District and took away personal belongings and a motorcycle from a contractor and his staff.

The two railway officials abducted by Maoists from Chandiposh railway Station on February 28 were released.

Two top CPI-Maoist cadres, including an alleged mastermind in the killing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxmanananda Saraswati, were arrested near Rourkela in the Sundergarh District. The duo was identified as Atul and Ashutosh. Police said Atul was allegedly involved in the killing of the VHP leader and four of his associates on August 23, 2008 in the Kandhamal District. Ashutosh is a member of the central military commission of the CPI-Maoist and is alleged to have masterminded the attack on the Nayagarh armoury on February 15, 2008, in which at least 14 Policemen and a civilian were killed. He is also allegedly involved in hundreds of crimes in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Debanath Mandal alias Anil, was arrested in a joint operation by the Orissa and Jharkhand Police. Debanath is a resident of Dattapara village in the Nadia District of West Bengal. Debanath reportedly confessed to his involvement in many cases of murder, loot, landmine blast, etc. in the East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

Through a large number of posters and pamphlets displayed at Chitapari-III and near Balimela Telephone Exchange under Orkel Police limits in Malkangiri District, the CPI-Maoist threatened leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal and those from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress with death penalty if they campaign for their parties in the forthcoming general elections in April in the two constituencies of the District. The Maoists have also threatened the people to boycott the election.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed Prabhat Panigrahi, an activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - a Hindu right-wing organisation, at Rudiguma village in Kandhamal District. Panigrahi was among 14 persons on a hit-list prepared by the Maoists after last year's communal violence in Kandhamal. He was staying at the house of another RSS activist when he was shot dead. According to sources, 15 armed men reached the house and shot Panigrahi from close range. The assailants left a poster saying anybody trying to follow in the footsteps of Lakshamanananda Saraswati, the slain leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, another right-wing Hindu organisation, would face death. Panigrahi, who was booked in some cases pertaining to the communal violence in 2008, had come out of the Baliguda prison on bail on March 14.

The beheaded body of Ravi Oram, a Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader, also slain by the Maoists, was found at Renjada on the Orissa-Jharkhand border near Rourkela in Sundergarh District. Police sources said they suspected that Oram was beheaded on March 17 but the news reached them late as people were afraid of the Maoists. Through a poster, the Maoists alleged that Oram was a Police informer.

Three cadres of the JLT were arrested in Sundergarh District on an unspecified date. A locally-made pistol, a live bullet and two knives were also recovered from them. They were involved in a number of loot and extortion cases in Hatibari, Nuangaon, Bishra and Biramitrapur area of the District.

Maoists had begun an anti-election poster campaign in different parts of Rayagada District. Alleged Maoist posters were sighted in remote areas of three extremist-affected blocks of the District. They were seen in Kutragada area of Bisamkatak block, Dhelapada of Chandrapur block and Asada area of Gudari block. The posters, which were printed in Oriya, urged the voters to boycott the elections.

Two persons, identified as Bulu Topo and Mangara Topo, were injured after being shot at by four suspected left-wing extremists at Bijabahal Chowk under Biramitrapur Police Station in Sundergarh District. The attackers also hurled a crude bomb before leaving the place on two motorbikes. Police later seized particles of the bomb and a note with a letter-head of the Jharkhand Badshah (Radhamohan Group) claiming responsibility stating that one of the injured, Bulu, was a Police informer and did not abide by the group's instructions despite several warnings.

Around 100 armed CPI-Maoist cadres attacked the Police outpost and a nearby rest house at Padia in Malkangiri District and partially damaged the two buildings using a bulldozer they had forcibly taken from a road construction site. They also set ablaze the battery room of a Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd telecom tower and assaulted the watchman and another person when they protested. The District Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi is reported to have confirmed the incident. After destroying the buildings, the Maoists put up posters in the area asking people to boycott the general elections scheduled to be held in April 2009. They also warned that those taking part in the elections would be punished.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist shot dead Nanda Kumar Kartani, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Zilla Parishad (District Council) president, near Sikpali Chowck under Kalimela Police Station area in Malkangiri District. His dead body was recovered by villagers on March 29. According to Police, Kartani was on way to his village Uskelbada from Malkangiri riding a motorcycle when the incident happened. The assailants also set ablaze his motorcycle.

One forest employee was injured and four others went missing after Maoists, in a simultaneous attack, blew up three forest range offices, looted tourists, damaged communication system and torched two vehicles in the Similipal Tiger Project (STP) in Mayurbhanj District. The Maoists decamped with eight rifles and VHF communication sets from forest range offices. "Using explosives, they razed the range offices at Barahakamuda, Chahala and Dhuduruchampa located in the core areas of the tiger reserve in a four-hour-long attack that ended around 2.30 a.m.," Field Director of the STP N. Nagaraj Reddy said. However, it was not clear whether the missing employees had fled or were abducted by the ultras, the Police sources said.

The woman Maoist who was killed by Police during an encounter in Kandhamal on March 24 was identified as Rinki Pal, an 'area commander' of the Maoists. She originally hailed from Jagatsinghpur.

A high alert was sounded in the Sundergarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj Districts in view of the April 1 general shutdown call given by the CPI-Maoist in Jharkhand. The shutdown call was given by the Maoists to protest the re-arrest of their leader Bharat Mundari and his wife Premalata by the Jharkhand Police from their residence at Panchapoya village in the night of March 28 after their release from Bonai jail in Sundergarh. Mundari, who was commander of platoon number 22 of the CPI-Maoist, was in Bonai jail along with his wife after their arrest on September 25, 2007.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed Bedanath Singh, a village leader, in Langalakanta village under K. Balang Police Station in Sundergarh District. Sources said Singh did not attend a meeting called by the Maoists on March 29, which led to his killing.

Maoists ransacked the forest rest house at Gudgudia and set ablaze the four-tent accommodation at Joranda in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj District.

A CPI-Maoist militia of about 100 cadres set ablaze two telecom towers of the Aircel business group in Malkangiri Village-24 and Malkangiri Village-22 under Padia Bock in Malkangiri District.

Police recovered 21 sacks containing Ammonium Nitrate explosives from an abandoned house in Jakar village under Kabisurya Nagar Police Station in Ganjam District. Police arrested one person, Chitrasen Jena, for his alleged involvement in the incident.

A group of 20 armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including eight women, looted INR 9.9 million from a vehicle transporting cash from State Bank of India's (SBI) Malkangiri branch to the Chitrakonda branch in Malkangiri District, about 60 kilometres away from Chitrakonda. The vehicle, which was accompanied by two armed guards and a bank official, had covered around 40 kilometres when the incident took place.

The Maoists looted and ransacked a forest rest house and a tourist complex at Jamuani in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve's Manda Range in Mayurbhanj District. This is the third time in a week that the Maoist attacked the tiger reserve.

Police said around 200 rounds of gun-fire were exchanged between the Police and CPI-Maoist cadres in the Bodigeta forest of Kalimela area in Malkangiri District. However, no arrests or casualty were reported so far.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed Somnath Madkami, a candidate of the Samruddha Odisha party for the Legislative Assembly election scheduled to be held on April 16, near Arshaguda village in Malkangiri District. Somnath, who was to contest from the Malkangiri constituency, was a close relative of Nanda Kumar Kartami, the former Zilla Parishad (District Council) president of Malkangiri, who was killed by the Maoists on March 29. The incident coincided with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to the District to attend rallies at Chitrakonda and Malkangiri. The body of Somnath was found near Arshaguda. His hands were tied and throat was cut with a sharp weapon. Talking to The Hindu, his son Lalit Madkami said that around 1 p.m. some persons, carrying a letter, came to their house at Kalimela. They called Somnath for a meeting with the Maoists inside the jungles near Arshaguda. While Lalit alleged that the murders of his father and uncle were part of a political conspiracy, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Malkangiri, Anup Sahu, said evidence pointed to the Maoists.

The Maoists called for election boycott in the District, besides holding out threats to politicians not to take part in the electoral process.

Hand-written posters in red ink suspected to be put up by cadres of the CPI-Maoist appeared on boundary walls of the Talsara Police Station, Balisankara block and Subdega block offices in Sundargarh District warning of death penalty to those allegedly involved in exploiting and harassing poor tribals. Pamphlets and posters also appeared in the Mohona block of Gajapati District by suspected left wing extremists. The posters, computer-typed in fonts of Oriya language, questioned the new political alliances that have developed just before the elections scheduled to be held on April 16 and 23.

Three Maoists were arrested in Raygada District.

11 paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres were killed in a gunfight following an attack on an armoury and bauxite mine of public sector National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO) at Panchpatmali near Damanjodi in Koraput District. Over a hundred armed Maoists laid siege to the state-run National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) bauxite mine at Panchpatmali near Damanjodi in Koraput District targeting the magazine depot, where explosives used for blasting purposes were stored. They also attacked a CISF camp nearby. Police sources said the 22 CISF personnel guarding the depot were outnumbered as firing ensued between the CISF personnel and the Maoists. They added that the Maoists also looted CISF weapons and disrupted the telecommunication network in the area by blowing up a mobile tower.

Fresh gun battle broke out in Koraput in the evening when Security Forces closed in on the fleeing Maoists. One more cadre of the CPI-Maoist was killed and four others were arrested in the combing operations against fleeing Maoists, even as the Security Forces recovered a substantial quantity of explosives and arms looted by the Maoists in the attack of April 12 on the NALCO bauxite mine at Panchpatmali near Damanjodi in Koraput District. The number of Maoists killed has risen to five. "Eleven CISF jawans posted at mines in Damanjodi were killed and 15 others injured in a five hour gunbattle after the ultras struck last night," Director General of Police M M Praharaj said. Bodies of four Maoists, including a woman, along with a light machine gun and a rifle were found at the spot, he said.

The Maoists fired four rounds targeting a Police van at Chaghati under Jashipur Police Station in the Mayurbjanj District on April 15. The vehicle was returning from Naana area inside the Similipal National Park to Jashipur Police Station. However, the Police personnel in the vehicle escaped unhurt.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze at least three polling booths, electronic voting machines and other poll material in Malkangiri District, disrupting voting in the area. The Maoists, who have given a call for poll boycott, struck at Andrahal in the Chitrakonda area setting ablaze a vehicle on election duty and two Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) after tying the hands of poll officials, the Malkangiri District Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawle said. Consequently, polling could not be held in the booth. Maoists also disrupted polling with violence in seven booths in the same District. All these booths are located in the Kalimela Police Station area under Malkangiri Assembly segment except the Andrahal booth of Chitrakonda segment. Almost no polling was reported from booths in remote areas like Manyamkonda, Kurmanur, Poplur, Tangurkonda, Bodigeta and Karkatpalli.

The Maoists blocked roads in the Mathili area of the District by felling trees and placing boulders preventing movement of polling officials and voters. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in the State in two phases on April 16 (today) and April 23.

Maoists destroyed EVMs and vehicles used by polling parties at Salimarikonda, MV 73, Bapanpalli, Vejangwada and Jagarkota booths. Consequently, polling could not be held in these booths. The Maoists reportedly attacked the polling party while it was returning after conducting elections at MPV 73 village. While they destroyed the EVM, the insurgents did not harm any polling official.

In the Narayanpatna block of Koraput District, a polling party returning from Bikrampur village narrowly escaped a landmine explosion. The blast occurred a few minutes after the vehicle of the polling party crossed the area. However, two CRPF Central Reserve Police Force personnel following the polling party on a motorbike sustained minor injuries. Two persons were detained from the location under suspicion.

In Koraput subdivision, the poll boycott call by Maoists and local reasons had an impact on 40 booths.

Maoists attacked the CRPF camp at Mahupada near Banki Police Station in the Sundergarh District. The Maoists attacked the camp of the paramilitary force from two sides and consequently there was a heavy exchange of fire, which lasted for more than an hour. "Once we got wind of their action we immediately took position and retaliated with full firepower and this caught them off-guard as they were not expecting an early response. But the guards were on high alert. And experience has shown that once they face stiff resistance they simply withdraw to save their bullets and cadres", said an unnamed CRPF official posted at Rourkela.

The first phase polling for the parliamentary and assembly seats in the State witnessed 52.6 per cent voter turnout despite the warning issued by Maoists in many parts of southern and western Orissa to boycott the elections.

The Andhra-Orissa Border (AOB) committee of the CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility for the attack on the National Aluminium Company Limited's (NALCO) Panchpatmali bauxite mines at Damanjodi in Koraput District on April 12. The Maoists conveyed this message to the local media in Koraput through a letter in Telugu. "Nalco has never worked for development of tribals in the area. Tribals of the area are still languishing. The PSU has deliberately neglected the area. Few local youths have been employed by the company. Our aim was not only to loot arms and explosives from Nalco but development of the area. Our fight against Nalco will continue," the letter stated.

Orissa Police claimed to have arrested a CPI-Maoist 'commander', identified as Udaya alias P. Rama Rao, along with his three associates after a raid on their hideout in the Gudari forest of Rayagada District. "Udaya is the third in the rank in the Vansadhra division and a link between (the Maoists') Andhra committee and the Orissa unit," District Superintendent of Police Ashish Kumar Singh said. Two of the associates arrested, Surendra and Jadu, are "hardcore cadre", Singh said, adding Padmana is an area committee member who provided logistics support to Udaya and others. Udaya was one of the masterminds behind the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, a Hindu right-wing leader, and four of his associates in Kandhamal on August 23, 2008, Singh said. Since being sent to Orissa in 2001 to expand the Maoist network, Udaya was involved in over 20 cases of murder, rioting and looting of Government armouries in the Udaygiri and Nayagarh Districts, Singh added. Some of the weapons seized from Udaya and others bore marks of the Nayagarh District armoury. Udaya, who has been with the CPI-Maoist for 18 years, originally belonged to the insurgents' Srikakulam division in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The Maoists refer to Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati as the Vansadhra Division.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a village chief in Malkangiri District. Kasa Madhi was the chief of Palkhonda village under Malkangiri Police Station limits. His body was located in the morning near Talkonda village, about 15 km from Malkangiri town. The Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Malkangiri, Anup Sahu, said Madhi was beaten to death by his assailants. According to him, initial findings hint that it could be the handiwork of the Maoists. The insurgents had reportedly conducted a meeting in the village a few hours before his murder.

A group of around 40 cadres of the CPI-Maoist blew up the panchayat (village level self-government institution) building at Telarai village under the Kalimela Police Station in Malkangiri District using landmines. The incident occurred when the administration and Police were busy planning the re-polling exercise in 17 booths of the District scheduled to be held on May 3. Maoist violence disrupted polling in these booths during the first phase of elections on April 16.

The CPI-Maoist apologised for assaulting Election Commission (EC) officials during the first phase elections in Malkangiri District on April 16. In a letter handed over to the Kalimela Block Development Officer (BDO) Duryodhan Naik by a messenger the CPI-Maoist's Malkangiri Divisional Committee Secretary stated that the attack on EC personnel of three booths like Potteru, Tagarkota and Manamkonda by their frontal organization activists on April 16 was quite unfortunate and claimed such incidents will not be repeated in the future. According to the BDO, the Maoists also handed over a cash amount of INR 6,954, four mobile handsets and one mobile charger to him which they had snatched away from the EC officials on the polling day.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) acquired land in Chhattisgarh and Orissa for setting up operational headquarters of its anti-Maoist force Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA). The land has been acquired at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh and Koraput in Orissa for setting up operational headquarters of the newly created COBRA, CRPF officials said. The headquarters of COBRA are located in Delhi.

Seven cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested following a raid at their hideouts in different parts of the Rayagada District. "At least seven Maoist cadres were arrested today," Superintendent of Police A. K. Singh said, adding, three of them were involved in the attack on armouries and Police Stations in Nayagarh in 2008. The arrests were made acting on the information received during interrogation of Udaya, a Maoist 'Commander' who was earlier arrested on April 20, he added. Three of those arrested were identified as Madhab Tukuruka, Jara Tukuruka and D.Tukuruka. Of the four others, Dasarathi Hikabadika and Asu Mamalka, were acting as key informers of Maoists. They were members of area committees of Maoists and were organising 'praja courts' (people's courts) in remote areas. The other two persons were identified as K. M. Prasad and Dama Sambutika. These two persons were contractors who according to Police had helped Maoists in different incidents. All these persons were arrested from different places during combing operations in the Maoist-affected areas of Gunupur, Chandrapur, Gudari in the Rayagada District.

In fresh violence aimed at disrupting re-polling, the CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire with SFs at about 0900 hours near Bhejanwada polling Station in Malkangiri District. The Maoists retreated after the SFs retaliated and there was no report of any injury among the SFs. The Malkangiri District Collector N. B. Jawale said that besides the shootout, polling was peaceful. Re-polling in 17 polling Stations in Malkangiri and Chitrakonda areas in the State was being held as elections in these areas on April 16 had been disrupted due to the Maoist attacks.

Nearly a dozen armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist dragged a liquor seller, K.B. Patra, out of his home at Kaspanga village under Brahmanigaon Police Station area in Kandhamal District and killed him with sharp-edged weapons.

A group of Maoists attacked the CRPF personnel in Malkangiri District. The CRPF personnel also diffused a bomb just before the ambush, the Police said. Four companies of CRPF personnel were returning after election duty when they came across obstructions placed by Maoists by felling trees on Malkangiri-Jeypore state highway near Gobindpalli in Mathili Police Station area. While trying to remove the hurdles from the road, the CRPF personnel noticed a bomb beneath a tree and it was immediately defused. When the CRPF personnel were busy removing the obstacles, the Maoists fired on them and the CRPF personnel retaliated. However, nobody was injured in the shootout that continued for a few minutes.

Pravakar Patra alias Bhaskar, the man who led a series of Maoists attacks in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) during March and April was arrested in Keonjhar. Bhaskar is a member of Kalinga Nagar Area Committee (KNAC) of CPI-Maoist and responsible for the growing Maoist activities in Jajpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and some parts of Mayurbhanj Districts. ''Bhaskar had mobilised armed platoons from Kalinga Nagar to carry out the series of attacks.'' sources said. He was also wanted in the recent murder at Keshaduarapal in border areas of Keonjhar and Jajpur.

Two hardcore cadres of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Madhav Sabar and Simanchal Kutruka, were arrested from two different places in Rayagada District, Superintendent of Police (SP) Asis Kumar Singh said. The duo was held on the basis of the information given by Udaya, who was arrested on April 20 on the charge of killing of the Hindu right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmanananda Saraswati. While Sabar was arrested from his house at Mendapai under Bisam-Cuttack Police Station, Kutruka was arrested from his residence at Dimiriguda village under Gudari Police Station. The arrested Maoists were reportedly involved in the attacks on R. Udayagiri Police Station in 2004 and Dangasorada Police Outpost about eight months back. A number of Maoist literature and materials like banners, posters and maps being used by the insurgents were seized from their possession.

Cadres of the Jharkhand Badshah, a left-wing extremist group led by Radha Mahali, set ablaze construction equipment and threatened the workers of two construction companies in the Bonaigarh area of Sundergarh District on. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sudarsan Sethi said at around 10pm, 10 to 12 armed insurgents stormed into the camp of contractor Yogesh Lath at Suarpali and assaulted the employees present and told them to ask the owner to pay INR 1000000. They also snatched seven mobile phones from the workers and left a letter at the spot. Subsequently, they went to the Kalaiposh camp of BMP Construction Company and set ablaze some construction equipment and vehicles. They also demanded a ransom of INR 1000000 from the BMP Company.

A brother and sister duo, reportedly providing logistics and other help to the CPI-Maoist, were arrested from Gudari area of Rayagada District. The duo was identified as Santosh Mohanty and his sister Rina Mohanty, both residents of Gudari. They were arrested while waiting to provide supplies to the Maoists. Apart from providing supplies they were also involved in extortion in the name of the Maoists, Police sources said.

Uday, the secretary of Bansadhara divisional committee, revealed during interrogations after being arrested from Gudari jungles in Rayagada District on April 21 that the Oriya-Telugu feeling has created rift among the CPI-Maoist cadres operating in Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border. While hardcore Maoists Basant, Ajad and Uday belong to Telugu community, Sabyasachi Panda is the lone Oriya and his ascendancy in the hierarchy has not gone down well among the cadres. Speaking to media persons Superintendent of Police A.K. Singh said because of this rift, the Orissa cadres have no stability and are working under duress. He hoped that more Maoists would surrender as the State has one of the best surrender policies.

Vehicular traffic between Boipariguda in Koraput District and the headquarters of Malkangiri District was blocked for more than 10 hours by cadres of the CPI-Maoist by felling trees near Tanginiguda in Boipariguda block. The Maoists had cut at least five trees near the village in the early hours of the day and had placed posters demanding compensation of INR 500,000 to the people on whom the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel had opened fire near the village a few days ago.

Normal life was disrupted on the first of the two-day general shutdown called by the CPI-Maoist in Malkangiri, headquarters of the Malkangiri District. No vehicle could reportedly be seen beyond Malkangiri town and the nearly 100-kilometres forest road at Motu along the Andhra Pradesh border was deserted. There was no vehicular movement on the roads connecting Malkangiri with Chitrakonda and Balimela. A red alert has been sounded in the region. The Maoists blocked all roads connecting Malkangiri town by felling trees and road communication from Chitrakonda and Balimela with Malkangiri town was completely paralyzed as the Maoists had blocked the roads at three places. The Andhra-Orissa Border Zonal Committee of the CPI-Maoist had called the shutdown demanding release of some of their cadres lodged in different jails in the State, withdrawal of central para-military forces from Malkangiri, an end to Police atrocities on villagers on the pretext of operations against the Maoists and some development issues related to tribals.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a peasant, identified as Kunja Mandingi, at Patingi village in the Narayanpatna block of Koraput District, suspecting him to be a Police informer. His dead body was found at a place about two kilometres from Narayanpatna. A letter in the name of CPI-Maoist found nearby stated that the victim had been punished for his 'anti-people act'. The letter also threatened that anyone who would emulate Mandingi was to face his fate.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly involved in the Nayagarh and Similipal attacks were arrested from Kaliapani area in the Jajpur District. The Jajpur SP, D.S. Kutey, identified the arrested Maoists as 23-year-old Mita alias Gundua, 21-year-old Hati alias Sanjaya Gagarai and 25-year-old Silu Champia. They were arrested during a joint operation by Special Operation Group personnel and Jajpur Police in the Kaliapani jungle under Kaliapani Police limits. Weapons, Maoist posters, banners and pamphlets were seized from their possession.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze five vehicles that were being used for laying a road in the Lakshmipuram Panchayat in Munchingput mandal of the District.

A construction contractor and president of the traders' association of Chitrakonda town, identified as Badri Narayan Patro, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres near Mantriput in Malkangiri District. It is suspected that the Maoists resorted to this murder to dissuade contractors from taking up construction works in the insurgency-affected remote areas.

The Planning Commission accepted in principle the State Government's proposal for an INR 3 billion livelihood intervention programme in the four worst insurgency-affected Districts of Deogarh, Gajapati, Malkangiri and Sambalpur over five years. Since the four Districts are covered under the Centrally-sponsored Backward Region Grant Fund, the new scheme will run concurrently with the existing programme, the main focus of which is infrastructure development. A task force of the Planning Commission headed by Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, A.N.P Sinha, has identified 33 Districts of the country, including four from Orissa, as the worst insurgency-affected Districts.

A group of 15 armed CPI-Maoist cadres led by around 100 Maoist sympathizers blew up a Police outpost by detonating a landmine at Mahupadar under Mathili Police Station limits in the Malkangiri District. The Maoists also set ablaze three motorcycles, documents and furniture of the Police outpost during their attack. However, the three Police constables posted at the outpost escaped unhurt. Before leaving the area, the Maoists looted rice stored in the Forest Department storehouse at the village and also damaged the tower of a private mobile service provider.

The CPI-Maoist cadres exploded an iron ore pipeline of the Essar Company at Rollagedda in the Chitrakonda area of the same District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres abducted and subsequently killed a young man, identified as Sibaram Hareka, after branding him as a Police informer in the outskirts of Kambivalasa in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District. The Koraput Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility for the killing.

The State Government plans to deploy 11,000 armed Policemen to combat the insurgency. At least half of these forces would reportedly be ready for on-field operations in the next two years. "The situation is extremely bad. In many interior pockets even Police Stations are closed after dusk and Government officials are avoiding to go to office. Travelling in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal Districts in particular are shunned by people unless there is emergency," said an unnamed senior Koraput District official.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that training of all the newly appointed Police personnel would be completed by November 2009 in view of the growing Maoist insurgency in the State. The State Government had provided INR 433.1 million for recruitment of 4,822 Security Force personnel in the vote-on account presented in the Assembly on February 12. Besides, INR 94.1 million was earmarked for appointment of 2,100 tribal youths as Special Police Officers in the Maoist affected Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Kandhamal Districts. Patnaik also directed Police officials to expedite fortification work of the Police Stations and jails in the areas infested by Maoists.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze five vehicles, including a truck, a tipper, an excavator and two Sports Utility Vehicles of the Essar Steel Limited near Chitrakonda in Malkangiri District.

CPI-Maoist posters threatening to kill a State Legislator Manoj Pradhan of G. Udayagiri were found pasted at Raikia in the Kandhamal District. "We have got information about such posters and are verifying it," said Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar.

A contractor, identified as Tukuna Sahu, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres after being branded as a Police informer in Keonjhar District. The dead body of Sahu was found near a pond in Harichandanpur village. The Maoists also left a handwritten note near his body saying they had been looking for Sahu for a long time as "he was a Police informer".

The three day bandh (general shut-down) called by the Maoists from June 3 in Malkangiri District paralysed traffic movement as the insurgents felled hundreds of trees on both sides of the Malkangiri-Koraput road, blocking all movement of vehicles.

While unveiling the draft of special action plan sent by the Union Government to combat the Maoist insurgency, the Director General of Police (DGP), Manmohan Praharaj, said that fighting Maoists in 17 of the 30 Districts in Orissa has become tough due to a lack of infrastructure. "We are facing difficulties in training security men to fight Maoists in jungles and difficult terrains of Malkangiri and other places," said the DGP. While rejecting suggestions that Maoists rule over entire Malkangiri, he admitted that "a small part of Malkangiri" close to Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh borders in high altitude remained difficult for the security personnel. "Some places in Malkangiri remain under control of the ultras," he added, saying, "Besides constructing helipads and other facilities, the Police are planning to set up security hubs and mobile camps in the region." Of the 17 Maoist affected Districts, Malkangiri and Rayagada would be covered under the special plan, fund for which would be provided by the Union Government.

He further said that for tackling the spurt in violence in Malkangiri, one battalion (nearly 1,000 personnel) of Central forces, deployed in northern part of the State, would be mobilised to the southern region mostly in undivided Koraput District. Commenting on a long term solution to the insurgency, Praharaj said besides recruiting about 400 local tribal youths, the State Government was also considering special steps to improve the socio-economic condition of local residents. The DGP also said, "Once the capacity building is complete in Orissa, things will be easy for the security personnel to contain violence in Malkangiri and other places," adding, "No Police informer is killed. They kill innocent people and name the victim as Police informer. We have no informer from among the public."

Around 70 cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked the Police Station in Baipariguda village in Koraput District and blew it up after forcing Policemen out of the premises. They also set ablaze several vehicles. Five Policemen were on duty when Maoists attacked the Police Station. "The rebels overpowered the Policemen, forced them out and blew up the building," Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Panda told. "They also blew up a Police outpost near by, ransacked the local forest office and set fire to nearly seven vehicles, including two Police Jeeps," he added. However, no one was killed or injured in the attack. The Maoists later escaped to the nearby forest. The Maoists left leaflets and posters at the site that claimed the attack was carried out to protest the killing of one of their leaders by the Police in the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh.

The State Government started the process of forming a State Industrial Security Force (SISF) on the line of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), official sources said. The process of having a specialised force was expedited after Maoists recently attacked the NALCO bauxite mines at Damonjodi and a steel company pipeline in Malkangiri. "An official of the rank of Inspector General of Police will be commandant of the proposed SISF," said Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj.

A 'divisional commander' of the CPI-Maoist and his wife surrendered before the Orissa Police. The Ghumusur 'divisional commander' Akash alias Dora alias Ghasiram Majhi and his wife Jharana, who is also a Maoist, surrendered before the Raygada District Superintendent of Police. "He was a very senior member in the Maoist hierarchy of Orissa, next only to Sabyasachi Panda, the chief of the rebels in Orissa," said Sudhanshu Sarangi, Inspector General of Police (anti-Naxal operations). Akash, a resident of Kharikapadar village in Rayagada District, joined the Maoist ranks seven years ago and rose to become the outfit's Ghumusar division commander a few years ago. "He was involved in over 12 Maoist attacks in the State including several high-profile attacks but of late he had grown disillusioned with the Maoists. We were in touch with and had been trying to persuade him to surrender," said a senior Police official. Akash will reportedly get homestead land and other benefits as per the Orissa Government's surrender policy for the insurgents.

The State Government has requested the Centre to send four battalions of the para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to the State, in the wake of recent Maoist attacks in Koraput and Malkangiri Districts. Presiding over a review meeting, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed to rush more Special Operation Group (SOG), CRPF and other forces to the affected areas to be engaged in an ongoing combing operation. Of the 28 companies of CRPF presently deployed at various places in Orissa, six companies (600 personnel) have already been sent to the troubled region. Patnaik also stressed on training and modernization of the force as part of a long-term action plan to curb the Maoist activities. "The Police Stations and outposts, which have borne the brunt of ultras recently, will start functioning normally soon," he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accused the Centre of not co-operating with his Government in combating the Maoists. "We are trying our best to tackle Maoist extremism. But the Centre is not cooperating," Patnaik said replying to an adjournment motion moved by the opposition Congress party on attacks by the CPI-Maoist, including the blowing up of two Police Stations and an out-post in Koraput District in the night of June 7. "Instead of providing more force to tackle the Maoist violence, the Centre has withdrawn 48 (about 4800 personnel) of the 76 CRPF companies deployed in the state," he said. The Chief Minister claimed that the Government had been successful in utilising funds provided by the Centre for security related expenditure and Police modernisation.

Three employees of an NGO were taken hostage by suspected Maoists in the night but set free the next morning, Police said.

Three persons reportedly belonging to an unidentified left-wing extremist outfit were arrested on charges of extortion and other criminal activities in Bonai area of Sundergarh District from Rourkela. They were identified as Lal Khan from Gaya in Bihar, Kanti Bhoumik and Doctor Bhoumik of Bonai area of Sundargarh District, the Superintendent of Police, Rourkela, Santosh Bala, told newspersons. Police also seized one carbine machine gun, five pistols and 30 rounds of ammunition, 60 detonators, two stolen motor cycles and INR 40,000 from their possession.

A tribal was shot dead by a group of eight armed cadres of CPI-Maoist on the suspicion of being a Police informer in Dakadihi village in Mayurbhanj District bordering Jharkhand.

Maoists blew up railway track near Chandiposh railway Station, some 30 km from the steel city of Rourkela in Sundergarh District, R.K. Bal, the District Superintendent of Police (Railway), told. The blast occurred minutes after a goods train crossed the area, he said, adding that no body was injured.

An exchange of fire took place between Maoists and Security Force personnel in a dense forest near Tamparsingha village in Sambalpur District, about 60 kilometres from Sambalpur. However, no one was injured in the gun-battle. A patrolling team consisting of Orissa State Armed Police and CRPF were on a routine patrolling duty, when they came face to face with the Maoists. "Combing operation is on at Jujumara and nearby Kisinda," Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar said adding a landmine has been seized from the spot.

A Police Sub-Inspector, Narasingha Mahakuda, was killed in a gunbattle between Security Forces and the CPI-Maoist cadres at Tampargarh in a forest area of Sambalpur District, Police said. The exchange of fire continued for over four hours before the Maoists managed to escape. It was immediately not known whether the Maoists suffered any casualty. The gunbattle followed an encounter in the area between Maoists and the Police on June 14.

A nursery with 86,000 saplings and more than 50 trees was destroyed by cadres of the CPI-Maoist at Jogipaluru village near Narayanpatna in Koraput District. The Maoists displayed banners in the nursery protesting against the killing of two top ranking Maoists in the forests of Warangal in the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh.

Nine Policemen, including eight belonging to the Orissa Special Security Force and one belonging to the Orissa State Armed Police, were killed when a landmine triggered by cadres of the CPI-Maoist struck their convoy near Palur village in Koraput District. The Policemen were meant to cover the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force personnel proceeding towards Palur to clear trees felled on the roads by the Maoists.

Four persons, including the husbands of two elected members of panchayat samiti (block level self-Government institution) and panchayat (village level self-Government institution), were abducted by cadres of the CPI-Maoist from Sonepur panchayat in the Kandhmal District. The missing persons included husband of panchayat Samiti member of Kudura village Tirisingh Pradhan, ward member from Tahangia village Agadu Nayak, husband of sarpanch (president of a Panchayat) Sonepur panchayat, Manmohan Pradhan and Suresh Pradhan of Tutungia village. Villagers say these persons were abducted by a group of 15 Maoists from Kudura village. These four persons were among the list of persons who had been threatened by Maoists through posters pasted in Daringbadi area in the past. In May 2009, Manohar had also been attacked by the Maoists. They had also reportedly set ablaze his bike.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were killed in a gun battle with the Police in Malkangiri District. The Maoists were spotted carrying a hand grenade in a bag during a security check in the evening of June 21 on the outskirts of Malkangiri. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sanjeeb Kumar Panda, told IANS that the two Maoists escaped into a nearby forest where they were later shot dead. He said two 9-mm pistols were also seized from their possession.

The State Government airlifted food and other essential commodities for the Police and paramilitary forces who are confined to Narayanpatna in Koraput District owing to a closure of roads by the Maoists. Since June 15, the roads to Narayanpatna are closed as the Government has failed to remove trees felled by the Maoists to block them. On June 18, nine Security Force personnel and a driver were killed when the insurgents blew off their jeep with a landmine near Narayanpatna.

Armed Maoists attacked the forest offices at Sunabeda sanctuary in Nuapada District and set them ablaze. Around 40 Maoists, including women cadres, targeted the rest shed, ranger and forester's offices of Sunabeda Wildlife Division at Sunabeda village. They tied up watchman Amar Majhi before setting all documents on fire.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist damaged the control rooms of two mobile phone towers at Kakiriguma village in Koraput District and a signal panel of a railway Station near the same village. The attacks occurred in the back of the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's visit to the region later in the evening to review the Police preparedness in combating the Maoists.

A cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Suvendu Mallick, was arrested by the Raghunathpur Police at Ambadarda village in Jagatsinghpur District.

The Centre would consider the Orissa Government's plan to combat the Maoist (also known as Naxalite) problem in the State, said the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at the end of his two-day visit to the State. "We will examine the suggestions and demands to extend support as much as we can," he said after holding discussions with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior Government officials about plans to combat the Left-wing extremism. He emphasised that combating Naxalites was the primary duty of the State Police and the Government should commit more forces to fight Left-wing extremism. The Centre would extend support on the basis of 1:1 ratio, he stated. "For every company of the state Police, I will commit one. I had told the Bengal government 'You commit one, I will give one'," Chidambaram said. On whether to use the Army to fight the Maoists, he said "This requires a Police action, who are competent to handle it" Chidambaram said, adding choppers would be provided to Orissa "whenever required". "There is a standard operation procedure for Police to move in Naxal-affected areas. If they follow these, such things will not happen." "Please do not violate the standard procedure," he said citing recent incidents in different parts of the country including the killings of Policemen in Orissa's Koraput District.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram asked Police forces in the Maoist-affected areas to adhere to the standard operation procedures (SOP). Referring to a series of setbacks the forces have faced in the Maoist-affected belt, he said.

The Security Forces moved into Narayanpatna area of Koraput District after clearing the Laxmipur-Narayanpatna road blocked by Maoists for the past 12 days. Official sources said the Orissa Police were accompanied by the Central Reserve Police Force, the anti-Naxalite Special Operation Group, bomb disposal squad and others and entered Narayanpatna after the Laxmipur-Narayanpatna road was cleared of large trees felled to block it.

Four petty contractors abducted by the Maoists on June 21 managed to escape and return to Daringbadi in the Kandhamal District. Though no formal Police complaint has been lodged in this connection, Daringbadi Police officers have reportedly confirmed the incident.

A group of around 25 armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist made an attempt to blast the half-constructed building of a sub-jail at MV-79 village in Malkangiri District. However, the under construction building did not suffer any damage. The Malkangiri District Superintendent of Police, Satyabrata Bhoi, said the Maoists had also planted a booby trap for the Police at the spot.

Six left-wing extremists belonging to the Jharkhand Badshah group were arrested from several remote villages in Sundargarh District during raids on their hideouts. The extremists were operating in Raibaga, Biramitrapur, Hatibari and Rajgangpur Police limits.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist identified as Mata Tiria and Abhiram Adeya, involved in the attack on the Similipal sanctuary about three months ago, were arrested from Lambugada under Jashipur Police Station in Mayurbhanj District by the Special Operation Group of the Orissa Police.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Deputy Inspector General of Police (South West), Sanjeev Panda, at the Rayagada District Police office. They were identified as Trinath Srambhutika alias Murali alias Raju (25) and A. Prakash Kimbaka alias Bata Kimbaka (25), both from Khandikapadar village under Gudari Police limits, and Krishna Kudkaka (25) of Jigdibhota village under Gudari Police limits in the District. Police said the three were active area committee members of Bansadhara division since 2001 and Trinath was also the 'commander' of Chandrapuram Dalam since 2006. Sanjeev Panda said the three were involved in a number of incidents.

The Sambalpur District Police arrested a hardcore Maoist, identified as David, from Jarang village under Jujumura Police limits and seized a licensed 12 bore rifle on an unspecified date. The rifle is believed to be that of the Sarpanch (village council chief) of Tampergarh who was hacked to death by the Maoists in January 2003. While the District Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Singh confirmed the arrest he refused to divulge further details.

A large number of armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including women, blew up the forest beat office in Paniganda in Adaba area of Gajapati District after dragging out the guard and tying him. A villager who arrived at the spot out of curiosity after hearing the noise sustained minor injuries. The Maoists had called for a State-wide shut down on July 10. Inspector-in-Charge of Adaba Police Station N. Kero said that the Maoists blew up the building using powerful explosives. The shut down had little impact in urban centres and evoked mixed response in rural areas amid closure of shops and thin traffic.

Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa, said that he has no hesitation in having a dialogue with the Maoists if they eschew violence and agree for talks within the ambit of the Constitution. Replying to question in the Legislative Assembly, Patnaik said the ongoing activities of the CPI-Maoist are not conducive for talks. The State Government had announced its readiness for talks with them in the past, but there was no response, he said. Answering another question, the Chief Minister said INR 4.2808 billion had been spent under the modernisation of State Police forces scheme during 2000-01 and 2008-09. He added that the balance amount of INR 131.5 million will be spent.

Armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist looted an explosive-laden vehicle and abducted a Sub-Inspector of Police by firing at a Police van at Champajharan under Koida Police Station in Sundergarh District. Diptesh Patnaik, the District Superintendent of Police, said that over 80 Maoists looted the private vehicle on its way to Koida from Rourkela with the explosives meant for mining activities after firing at its driver. The Maoists then fired indiscriminately at a Police van which was escorting it and abducted Ajit Bardhan, Sub-Inspector of Koida Police Station. Koida is a Maoist-prone area near Jharkhand. The driver of the private vehicle is reported to have sustained bullet injuries.

The body of Sub-Inspector of Police, Ajit Bardhan, who was abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres on July 16, was recovered during combing operations at Jharbeda in a dense forest of Chandiposh In Sundergarh District.

CRPF trooper Abdul Rafiq was killed in a landmine explosion during the combing operations to rescue Sub-Inspector Ajit Bardhan at a place between Chandiposh and Jharbeda.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked the Police outpost at Katingia in the Kandhamal District. The Maoists set ablaze documents and furniture kept at the Police outpost, a bike and also destroyed the VHF set kept there. In addition, they also exploded a landmine to destroy a newly constructed building in the premises of the Police outpost. However, the three Policemen on duty during the attack were not harmed though they were overpowered. Around 50 Maoists took part in this attack. The report added that most of the Maoists rounded up the Katingia village not to let anyone go out to pass on message about the attack. Around 10 armed Maoists reached the outpost to overpower the Policemen and to trigger the explosion. Before escaping, the Maoists also blocked the Jhinjiriguda-Katingia road by cutting down trees.

Police in Gajapati District arrested three persons, identified as N. Narayan Rao, Dasima Gamang and Sinia Raita, from the Minigam village under Kasinagar Police Station for illegal possession of explosives. According to Gajapati Superintendent of Police, Sanjiv Arora, 200 electronic detonators, 12 packets of detonator caps, three bundles of fuse wire and 10 kilograms of urea was seized from them. These persons are suspected to have kept the explosives illegally for use in a stone quarry near their village. But investigation and interrogation of arrested persons was on to ascertain whether they had any links with Maoists or not.

The CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility for the killing of an abducted Police officer in the Sundergarh District of Orissa, arguing they were forced to commit the act to protest the Centre's decision to ban the organisation. In a message to the branch office of an Oriya daily in Rourkela, the Chhotanagpur ''zonal commander'' of the Maoists, Samar, claimed responsibility for the killing of Sub-Inspector Ajit Bardhan after abducting him from Champajharan in the District on July 16.

Replying to an adjournment motion on Naxalite (left-wing extremist) activities in the State Assembly, the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik blamed the Union Government for the State not being able to contain the Maoist insurgency. "As I have said earlier, there is not enough central assistance to counter Naxalites in the state effectively. Among the various requests, which I have made to the ministry of home affairs, I would like to mention our need for four battalions of central paramilitary forces on a long-term basis and three more for short-term engagement to control the menace. Our request for dedicated helicopter also has not been acceded to. Central forces have been withdrawn from the communally sensitive District of Kandhamal against my repeated requests to retain them. Kandhamal also has Naxal problems," Patnaik said.

Describing the insurgency as pan-India, the Chief Minister said, "As the nature of Naxal incidents would indicate, Naxalism is not an isolated problem. Since it is a menace of national magnitude and has inter-state ramifications, development in one state has an impact on development in neighboring states. It has to be addressed only through a coordinated approach of the central and State Governments". On the State Government's action, Patnaik disclosed that some 59 cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), including top cadres, have been captured and eight Maoists have been killed in different encounters. Responding to some Congress legislators concern over media reports of the warning by the Orissa Police Association of non-cooperation, Patnaik clarified that some suggestions to effectively combat the Maoists given by the association like fortification of Police Stations, provision of barrack facilities and also imparting suitable training to the Policemen have been implemented to a large extent.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Surendra Vekwara (19) and his wife Ruby (18), surrendered before the Rayagada Police expressing a desire to return to the mainstream, Police said. The couple who hail from Gudari area of Rayagada District admitted their involvement in several incidents, including the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati (August 2008), Nayagarh armoury raid (February 2008) and many other incidents, Superintendent of Police A. K. Singh told reporters. They were active in Rayagada. The couple decided to give up the path of violence and return to the mainstream as they were disenchanted with the Maoist activities, Police said.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Trinath Brekwada and Purna Brekwada, were arrested from Uradi village of Bisamkatak block of Rayagada District. The duo joined the outfit in 2004 and was active members of the Bansadhara Division. They were involved in several cases of Maoist violence in Rayagada District, including the attack on the Dengasorada Police Outpost in 2006. They were also in-charge of the Chasi Mulia Samity, the frontal organization of the CPI-Maoist in Rayagada District. They were close to Uday and Azad, two top leaders of the Basadara Division. According to the report, Uday has been arrested earlier by Police in the Rayagada District.

During a debate on budgetary demand for the Home department in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed that the State Government would recruit 3000 Special Police Officers (SPOs) and 4000 home guards in coming days. The Government has also increased the salary of home guards from INR 90 to INR 110 per day. As per the new guidelines, the home guards would work for 300 days in a year. Earlier the timeframe stood at 220 days.

At least 18 people from Bhatiguda, Nagiaguda, Podapadar and Bankuli in the Boipariguda block were detained by the Koraput District Police. According to sources, the Police was interrogating them suspecting their involvement in the June 7, 2009 Boipariguda Police Station blast by the CPI-Maoist cadres.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik came up with a proposal to promote games like volleyball, football, hockey and cricket in all the CPI-Maoist-affected Districts to wean the youth away from Maoists. "INR 200,000 would be given to every tribal dominated District to distribute sports kits and organise sports events," Patnaik said.

Security Forces in the State are on a high alert in the Maoist-infested Districts in the wake of the outfit observing a 'martyrs' week' starting from July 28. Posters and banners of the Maoists calling locals to take part in the 'martyrs' week' have come up in remote areas of Kalimela and MV 79 areas of Malkangiri District. In the Rayagada District, CPI-Maoist posters and banners for the 'martyrs' week' were found in the Gudari and Chadrapur areas.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist blew up two mobile phone towers of different private operators at Padmagiri and Tandapali in the Malkangiri District even as security was tightened in the State in view of 'martyrs week' being observed by the Maoists from July 28, the Police said. Normal life was affected in Kalimela, Motu, MV-79 and Padia areas of the District where shops and business establishments remained closed and vehicular movement came to a halt as the ''martyrs week'' called by Maoists began.

Suspected Maoists killed two Policemen, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Muralidhar Bastia and home guard Hadibandhu Mahanta, near Brahmanipal Police outpost in the Keonjhar District. The bullet-ridden dead bodies of the slain Policemen were found in the evening five kilometres away from the Police outpost. "We suspect the hand of Maoists in the crime," an unnamed senior District Police official said.

Three Maoists reached the house of L. Satyanarayana, the nephew of Gudari Notified Area Council (NAC) chairman, in Gudari and opened fire injuring L. Laxmi, wife of Satyanarayana.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed one villager, identified as Gopinath Lima, at Burukudu village under Gudari Police Station in the Rayagada District. Four armed extremists reached the house of Lima and dragged him out of the house. He was taken to the middle of the village and assaulted ruthlessly in front of the villagers. Then the victim was dragged into the near by agricultural field and was shot dead. It is suspected that Maoists murdered him alleging him to be a Police informer. Burukudu village is situated at a distance of one kilometre from the Gudari Police Station.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist set ablaze battery rooms of two cellular telephone towers belonging to the Reliance and Airtel companies in Dangabadi and Ramgiri village respectively in Koraput District. The Maoists have caused damage to more than a dozen such towers in three southern Districts of Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada in the past month, Police said.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist separately raided the remote Gakdibali and Godarguda villages in the Rayagada District and shot dead two civilians, Siba Sabar and Bibhisan Behera, suspecting them to be Police informers. According to sources, Siba had past links with the Maoists. He was involved in preparing posters, pamphlets and banners for the insurgents.

The State Government has decided to fill up all the 12,000 vacant posts at all levels of the Orissa Police by October 2009. This includes 3,500 posts in the Maoist-affected Districts. A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Besides fresh recruitment, vacancies will also be filled up through promotions. It was decided that the sixth India Reserve Battalion (IRB) would be set up soon. About 1,000 personnel will be recruited for the IRB. Necessary training arrangements will be made for the newly-recruited force to make them capable of fighting the Maoists.

Three woman cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in an exchange of fire between a group of about 10 to 15 Maoists and a joint team of the Andhra Pradesh and Orissa Police near Ramannaguda in the Rayagada District, about 30 to 40 kilometres from the State border. According to information received by the Vizianagaram Police (Andhra Pradesh), the dead included Potanapalli Subhdara alias Swarna (30), wife of the Maoist party's Srikakulam divisional committee secretary Daya (Chamala Krishnamurthy) and Landa Rajeswari alias Sarada (26), wife of Gora Vallabha Rao alias Murali - Srikakulam divisional committee member. The third deceased was reportedly identified as one Jeevani, aged around 20, of Rayagada, Vizianagaram District Superintendent of Police (SP) Y. Gangadhar said. The Maoists were reportedly on their way back to the Andhra Pradesh side of the border when they encountered a combing party around 7am (IST). An INSAS rifle, two .303 rifles, a carbine and more than 100 rounds of ammunition were also recovered from the incident site. However, Modem Balakrishna alias Bhaskar, who is a member of the Maoists' Andhra Orissa Border State Committee, and one Daya, reportedly managed to escape during the exchange of fire.

Mahadev Tarai of the Kesipur village of Ganjam District was arrested along with explosive material by the personnel of the Gurandi Police Station in the Gajapati District near Jubarajpur village. Detonators, gun powder and other electronic equipment were seized from him. While Tarai claimed that these materials were to be used by a stone quarry, investigation is on whether he had any links with the Maoists.

Security was beefed up at National Aluminium Co. Ltd (NALCO) mine in the Koraput District following a Maoist threat. "We have beefed up security after we recently received a letter allegedly sent by Communist Party of India-Maoist," said P.K. Mohapatra, the head of the Damanjodi refinery and mine. "We have already informed the District Police and administrative authorities about it," he added.

The State Government has assessed that about 50 prisons in the State need immediate fortification in view of the increasing activities of the Maoists. The State Government has sought INR 1.8 billion from the Finance Commission for upgradation of jail security and other measures.

Police arrested the 'deputy commander' of the Kalimela Dalam (squad) of the CPI-Maoist, Somnath Padiami from the Badigata jungles in Malkangiri District. Malkangiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Satyabrata Sahu said during interrogation the arrested Maoist had revealed their plans to blast the Poteru Police Station during Independence Day celebrations. Following this revelation, security and logistics to protect Police Stations in the District is being revamped. Somnath was involved in major Maoist attacks in the District like the sinking of the motor launch in Chitrakonda reservoir in June 29, 2008, which killed 38 Security Force (SF) personnel, including 36 belonging to the elite anti-Maoist Greyhounds from Andhra Pradesh, the landmine blast on July 16, 2008 near MV-126 (Malkangiri Village-126) that killed 17 Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel of Orissa and looting of INR 9.9 million from a vehicle of State Bank of India near Chitrakonda in April 2009.

Describing the Maoist insurgency as the biggest challenge facing the State and the country, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in his Independence Day speech, urged the Maoists to shun violence and return to the mainstream. "We are taking strong steps to combat Naxalism. I am appealing to them to return to the mainstream," Patnaik said. Terming the Maoists as the biggest problem for the State, Patnaik said his Government has taken all necessary steps to counter violence, adding, "We are appointing tribal youths as special Police officers."

The CPI-Maoist in a press release threatened that its cadres would kill some Police officials posted in Rayagada District, including the District Superintendent of Police Ashish Kumar Singh. The four-page press release was sent to journalists at the District headquarter of Rayagada. The note was allegedly sent by Dona Kesaba Rao alias Azad, who claims to be the Maoist 'commander' of the Vansadhara division that operates in the region. The Police, however, maintained that the threat was routine. "They are frustrated after we arrested more than 27 Maoists, including a ''commander'' of their division, in the past two months. Besides some Maoists, including a commander, have also surrendered before the Police during that period," the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sanjeeb Panda said.

Thousands of tribal men and women from Kanti, Talagumandi, Bija Ghati, Kotia, Tentulipadar, Dumuripadar and Dudhari panchayats (village-level local self-Government institution) of Koraput District equipped with traditional arms took out a huge rally at Dudhari. The members, under the leadership of Alam Tading, president of the regional unit of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi at Kanti, had blocked the roads leading to the village by felling trees to prevent anyone from entering the village during the meeting.

The State demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces in the national sanctuaries and parks in the State, in view of the growing threat from the CPI-Maoist. "The red extremism is growing in national parks and Sanctuaries in the state. Extensive damage has been reported from Similipal Tiger Reserve," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said at the day-long conference of all the state forest and environment ministers in New Delhi. He demanded deployment of central paramilitary forces in Badrama, Khalasuni, Lakhary Valley sanctuary, Sunabeda and Kotgarh. Patnaik also demanded additional funds for Orissa to strengthen the infrastructure in the Maoist-infested areas where extensive damage has been reported.

A woman, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, was found killed by cadres of the CPI-Maoist near MV-90 village under Kalimela Police Station in the Malkangiri District on. The murder is suspected to have occurred in the early hours of August 17. As per the handwritten pamphlet in Oriya language left by the Maoists near her body, the name of the deceased was Kamala. However, the Maoists had not mentioned the place from where she hailed. They threatened that anyone who helped the Police would face similar consequences. The Malkangiri SP Satyabrata Bhoi said, "How can this woman be a Police informer when no one in the area is able to identify her?" The SP said the age of the slain woman hinted that she may be a CPI-Maoist cadre who had got disenchanted and escaped from their camp. "Suspecting that she may surrender and spill vital information about the Maoist activities, the leftist ultras may have killed her," he added.

Armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist blew up at least two forest department office buildings at Tamada, located barely 20 to 35 kilometres from Rourkela in the Sundergarh District. "After boarding a bus at Karuabahal, around 40 Maoist cadres blew up the forest range office at Tamada using powerful explosives. The employees were driven away before destroying the office," Sudarsan Sethi, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer said. Maoists then reached Birida under Brahmanitaranga Police Station and similarly destroyed the forest beat house there. Sethi said this is for the first time that Maoists blew up forest department offices in Sundergarh District.

The District administration in Koraput set about clearing roads to Narayanpatna blocked by Maoists by felling trees since August 17. "We have started clearing the roads. We hope that vehicles will roll into Narayanpatna cut off since August 17. At first, the Narayanpatna-Laxmipur Road will be cleared," said District Collector Gadadhar Parida. The administration has pressed two teams from the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force, a bomb disposal squad and a large number of Security Forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operation Group personnel, into service to clear the Laxmipur-Narayanpanta Road.

Four Naxalites from Tamil Nadu are on an indefinite hunger in the District jail in Koraput, demanding early disposal of their cases and shifting to Periyakulam in Tamil Nadu. Muthu Selvam, M. Karthik alias Kannan alias Gobi, Palanivel and Velmurugan were lodged at the jail along with Sundar Murty, another hardcore Naxalite, on January 15, 2008 for their involvement in the attack on the Police headquarters at Koraput in 2004. As Sundar Murty was shifted to Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu, in August 2008 for appearing before a TADA court, the court could not give a final verdict on the case as he was the prime accused, according to Niranjan Das, the Jailor.

More than 20 heavily armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked the Roxy railway Station, located in a remote place under K. Bolang Police Station area in Sundergarh District, and blew it up after asking the employees to move out. The Maoists also abducted three persons, including the Station Master, besides setting ablaze around 15 vehicles parked near the small railway Station used primarily for iron ore transportation, Police said. The Station is used for transporting iron ore to the Rourkela Steel Plant. Later the three railways employees, who were held captive by the Maoists for over three hours, were released with a warning not to run trains during a shutdown.

A group of 15 armed Maoists attacked Bhalulata Railway Station, 25 kilometres from Rourkela, but could not blow up the building as the explosive device did not go off.

The four under trial Naxalites from Tamil Nadu who were on a hunger strike in the District jail at Koraput ended their fast after getting an assurance from the District Collector of Koraput.

Four suspected Maoists, caught by Hundula villagers in the Joda area of Keonjhar District, were freed after being detained for more than five hours, as Police failed to reach the area until then. "We had received information. But all our teams were already posted at Joda Municipality for bypoll duty. So we were unable to send forces," Inspector-in-Charge, Joda, M Naik said.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked the camp of a construction company and destroyed machinery near Mahupadar village under Mathili Police Station in the Malkangiri District. The Maoists set ablaze three tippers, one excavator and one machine used to melt and mix coal tar at the worksite. The construction company was laying a road under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the area. According to sources, around 20 armed Maoists along with more than 50 supporters reached the camp of the construction company. They threatened the labourers sleeping in the camp not to oppose their activities or try to contact anyone. The panicked labourers were kept under the watch of armed cadres while others got involved in the arson.

Three persons were abducted by the CPI-Maoist-backed Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) from Laxmipur in Koraput District demanding release of two of their companions. Earlier, on August 26, Laxmipur Police had arrested two CMAS activists, identified as Jaga Hikaka and Tuku Subudhi for their involvement in damaging a foreign liquor shop at Laxmipur. In that incident about 15 CMAS activists raided a liquor shop and destroyed stocked liquor worth several thousand rupees. They also looted more than INR 50,000 from the shop. Around 3pm (IST) over 400 CMAS activists armed with their traditional weapons, agitated in front of the Laxmipur Police Station, demanding the release of their companions. Later, the mob proceeded towards the distillery and took three persons as hostages, said sources.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist abducted one Jiten Patel, a contractor, from Simdega in the Sundergarh District. Superintendent of Police Narasingh Bhoi said Jiten Patel was taken away from his work site at Simdega by six motor cycle-borne men, suspected to be Maoists, who then disappeared into neighbouring Chhattisgarh forest. Though the cause was yet to be ascertained, extortion and levy collection might be the reasons behind the abduction. Police said search operation is on.

A day after being abducted by cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Sundargarh District, contractor Jatin Patel was released by his abductors, Police said. Although Jatin has been released, he was, however, yet to reach his home at Sibdega, the official said, adding that further details about the incident would be known only after he arrives. Extortion was believed to be the reason behind the abduction.

30 cadres and supporters of the CPI-Maoist were arrested during the night-long combing operations in four places of Sundergarh District. The Maoists were arrested during joint combing operations by Police and Central Reserve Police Force at Silipunji, Mundatala, Chandiposh and Champajharan areas in the District, Bonai Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sudarsan Sethi said, adding that arms, ammunition and posters were seized from them. Police claimed that during preliminary interrogation, the Maoists have confessed to involvement in the recent killing of Ajit Bardhan, officer-in-charge of Koida Police Station, looting an explosive-laden van from Champajharan on July 16 and blasting three forest department buildings at Tamada and Birida areas in the District two months back.

The State Government asked Collectors of all the Maoist insurgency-affected Districts to verify allegations regarding the Maoists eating foodstuff meant for students of several State-run schools and hostels for tribal girls located in remote areas, official sources said. "Letters have been sent to all the collectors to verify allegations that Maoists forcibly eat food meant for school children living in hostels," the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development Department Secretary Ashok Tripathy told.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist threatened to blow up block offices in the Sundergarh District if the authorities failed to pay compensation to families in the Subdega and Balishankara area who had lost lives and properties in elephant attacks. Two letters written with red ink in English, Oriya and Sadri (local tribal language) received by the block development officers of Subdega and Balishankara threatened the officials to pay compensation within September 5 to families in the blocks which lost their members, properties and crop in elephant attacks since 2006. The Maoists demanded INR 300,000 to families who lost their members in pachyderm attacks, INR 200,000 for those whose houses were completely damaged and INR 50,000 for half damaged and INR 30,000 for partially damaged houses.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist damaged a mobile phone communication tower in MV 74 village and cut down trees to block some major roads in Malkangiri District. According to sources, some armed CPI-Maoist cadres accompanied by their supporters attacked the communication tower. They also damaged the control room and generator room of the communication tower by a blast. The CPI-Maoist cadres did not injure any one during the attack, Police sources said. The CPI-Maoists and their supporters cut down trees at several places to block the Chitrakonda-Balimela road and the Chitrakonda-Sileru road.

For the first time through banners and posters, CPI-Maoist threatened the teachers working in schools in remote areas of Malkangiri District. They intimidated the teachers to face their wrath if the Paramilitary Forces involved in anti-Naxal operations camped in their schools. Through their posters, the CPI-Maoist cadres also opposed the establishment of Cobra Battalion in Koraput District. To create a support base in remote areas of the District, Maoists also expressed their support to the demand of Konda Reddy community to be included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of Orissa.

Two persons from the Bandhugaon faction Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) sustained injuries when two factions of the CMAS - CMAS-Bandhugaon and CMAS-Narayanpatna blocks of Koraput District - attacked each other on the road between Baunsput and Dasini in the Bandhugaon block.

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist, involved in two murder cases and other violence, were arrested at Topadihi village under K Balang Police Station in Sundergarh District. The Maoists were captured by Security Force personnel when they were hiding in a forest near the village, the Police said, adding that all the three belonged to the village. They were reportedly involved in the killing of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions leader Rabi Oram and businessman Deonath Singh, sources said.

Two hardcore Maoists involved in the rampage in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) were arrested from an unspecified location and two locally-made guns were seized from them. They were identified as Sushil Sanya of Jharkhand and based in Keonjhar District's Kailadapada village and Paoles Hembrom of Mayurbhanj District's Golamunda village. Sanya masterminded the rampages in Meghasan, Chahala UBK (Upper-Barha-Kamuda) range and Dhudruchampa. The duo was involved in at least 16 other cases. Sanya, believed to be a hardcore Maoist, was active in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Angul Districts. Sanya and Tunu were arrested by one platoon of SOG, a group of District voluntary force and a team of 10 Police officers.

One person, identified as Suresh Pindi, who was wounded in a clash between the Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon groups of the Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) in Koraput District on September 7, succumbed to injuries.

Supporters of the Narayanpatna group of the CMAS called off their rally at Laxmipur to avoid any untoward situation.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist triggered about a dozen explosions blowing up railway tracks and at least four Government buildings in the Sundargarh District in the early morning. The Maoists had called for a 24-hour shutdown in the District to demand the release of 30 people who were arrested on August 29 on the suspicion that they were Maoists. The extremists blasted railway tracks at around seven places between Bimlagarh and Patangi, Police said. They also blew up an abandoned Police Station building at Kalta, another building where a CRPF camp was functioning earlier, a community centre and office building of the CITU, Police said, adding they also set ablaze a truck. The Maoists also abducted five railway employees, including the Stationmaster, from the Topadiha Station in the District during the raid.

Speaking at the passing out parade ceremony of first batch of Sub-Inspectors who undergone training at the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed that the State Government will soon come up with a new Police Training Institute where one thousand personnel will be able to under go training every year. The Chief Minister said five new India Reserve Battalions, four special security battalions are being established to take on Maoists.

The five railway employees who were abducted by the CPI-Maoist from Topadihi railway Station in Sundergarh District on September 10 were released. After being abducted during a series of attacks by the Maoists in the Bonai area, they were believed to have been taken to a hideout in the dense Saranda forest in the neighbouring State of Jharkhand, Police said.

A suspected cadre of the CPI-Maoist slashed his throat with a shaving blade while in Police custody in Keonjhar District. Police said the man, Anandi Juanga (32), tried to commit suicide around noon while he was lodged with four other accused at the Police reserve in Keonjhar. Police, however, refused to divulge the reason behind the attempted suicide.

The State Government alleged that the Centre had never provided it with adequate Central Para-Military Force (CPMF) and other logistics to fight insurgency. The State Government's requests for more Central Force to tackle Maoist violence and other problems were never met, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told media persons in capital Bhubaneswar while reacting to allegations of inaction in meaningfully tackling the Maoist insurgency.

Ananta Nayak, the former Member of Parliament from Keonjhar constituency, received a threat letter from a left-wing extremist group.

Four hardcore cadres of the CPI-Maoist were forwarded to the court. Earlier, they were arrested from Harichandanpur and Daitary areas of Keonjhar District, Police said. The arrested Maoists, identified as Aswini Juang (24), Sugrib Juang (19), Pathani Munda (35) and Anadi Juang (28), were forwarded to the court. They were involved in many criminal incidents in Jajpur, Keonjhar, Angul and Dhenkanal Districts, he added.

Thousands of people took out a rally at Dasmantpur in Koraput District, submitting a memorandum to the District Administration with a demand to take action against the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS, the Peasants, Labourers and Tribals Association) for their alleged violent activities in the region.

A rural reporter of a local media, Laxman Choudhury, was arrested by the Police in Gajapati District on September 20 for his suspected links with the CPI-Maoist. Subsequently, members of the Berhampur Press Club blocked the road on September 21, in protest against Laxman's arrest. They also handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Inspector General of Police demanding his unconditional release. Meanwhile, the District Superintendent of Police (SP), Sanjeev Arora, defending the Police action said, "According to a preliminary probe, report there was enough evidence against Chowdhury about his nexus with Maoists."

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, involved in the attack on forest rest houses and beat office in Similipal Tiger Reserve area, were arrested in Mayurbhanj District. The duo, identified as Chotrai Dhirua (42) and Bindira Samath (35), were arrested in separate operations in the Gudgudia range of Similipal forests, the Additional Superintendent of Police Chintamani Panda said. Dhirua, who was involved in attacks on an inspection bungle and forest buildings, was arrested from Soharapata village, Panda said, adding the Maoist had also given shelter to another Maoist leader Sushil Sayaan, who was arrested recently from the District. Some Maoist literature, leaflets and other publicity materials were seized from Dhirua. Samath was involved in several offences including attacks on Meghasuni wireless centre, a forest range office and a forest beat house inside Similipal early this year, he said.

The State Government urged the Central Government for more Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and a dedicated chopper to tackle the Maoist menace. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi to press the demand. He asked for seven battalions of the CRPF and a helicopter for tackling the extremists in the state. He also said that the amount sanctioned for hiring the helicopter was not adequate. He demanded increase in grant under security related expenses from INR 240 million to INR 640 million.

A cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Katam Jaga (28), was arrested during an anti-Maoist operation in the Malkangiri District in the evening. "We were tipped off regarding Jaga's movement and he was arrested near Sudhakonda forests. We recovered a grenade from his possession," said Superintendent of Police (SP), Malkangiri, Satyabrata Bhoi. According to Bhoi, Jaga was on the Police wanted list since long for his involvement in a series of Maoist-related acts of violence, including the murder of Somnath Madkami, the Samdrudha Odisha candidate from Malkangiri Assembly seat, across Malkangiri over the last few months. "During interrogation, Jaga admitted to his involvement in the killing of Madkami. He has also confessed to the killing of a civilian on the suspicion of Police informer at MV 79 in June. This apart, he was involved in several Naxal-related incidents in the District," the SP said. Police said Jaga belongs to the Motu Dalam (squad) of the CPI-Maoist.

The State Government said it was contemplating to launch a joint offensive along with Central para-military forces against the CPI-Maoist in southern and western Districts of the State. "Our Special Operations Group personnel have plans to launch a joint combing operation along with central forces against Maoists," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar on his return from Delhi.

In view of the growing Maoist threat in the State, the Government advised the companies using explosives for mining purposes to reduce the stock to a level sufficient for only 3-4 days.

Police recovered firearms, including one SLR and three AK-47 rifles, from the Nandagiri rehabilitation centre in Kandhamal District during a raid following the death of an inmate during illegal manufacturing of crude bombs there. The arms were looted from the Nayagarh Police armoury during a raid by the CPI-Maoist in February 2008. Nandagiri rehabilitation centre was opened for giving shelter to riot-hit Christians in the aftermath of the killing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmananand Saraswati on August 23, 2008.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a former ward member, Irma Salwan (50) of Tekalguda, after accusing him of being a Police informer in Malkangiri District. "Salwan's throat had been slit and he bled to death. Out of fear, the villagers had buried the body in the woods. We were able to recover it only on Sunday [October 4]," Malkangiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Satya Brata Bhoi said.

About 30 armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist blew up the Katingia Police outpost in the Kandhamal District in the night. However, no one was hurt. The Maoists also set ablaze documents there. Additional Police force could not reach the spot due to felling of tress on the road connecting Brahmanigaon area, official sources said.

Traffic resumed on the Malkangiri-Bhubaneswar road that had been blocked by the Maoists near Govindpally Ghat road on October 3 to enforce their bandh (shut down) call. "All road blockades put up by the Maoists have been lifted and road connectivity has been normalized in the District," the SP said.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed three Police personnel, including the security guard of senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Sudam Marandi, after a football match at Bandap village under Chandua Police Station in the Mayurbhanj District. Sudam Marandi, a former Member of Parliament, however, escaped unhurt, Police said. The Maoists attacked the Security Force personnel accompanying Marandi when they were leaving the tournament venue after distribution of prizes, Police said, adding that Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Narayan Pradhan and two other Policemen were shot dead.

11 CPI-Maoist sympathisers were arrested from Jakalkundi village under Kalimela Police Station in the Malkangiri District. According to Malkangiri SP Satyabrata Bhoi, Police raided the village, situated at a distance of eight kilometres from Kalimela, to arrest a top Maoist who was hiding there. But a group of 11 tribals had allegedly accosted the Police with traditional arms like bows and arrows. Taking advantage of it, the Maoist leader allegedly managed to escape. Later, Police arrested the 11 sympathisers who had prevented the arrest.

Two persons were arrested from Berhampur railway Station by a Police team from Gajapati District for their alleged links with the CPI-Maoist. A motorcycle with Andhra Pradesh registration number was seized from them. The arrestees were identified as Sumant Majhi and Andreo Majhi of Lamdang village under Adaba Police Station in Gajapati District.

Two top cadres of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Subhas Mambalaka (22) and Narasingha Mambalaka (25), were arrested from the dense forests of Bisamkatak area near the Halma village in Rayagada District during combing operations. The Rayagada Superintendent of Police A. K. Singh said both of them were involved in the attack on the Dangasorada Police outpost in Rayagada District in 2007.

The Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ruled out any talks with the CPI-Maoist in the prevailing condition, saying that he is not hopeful of any positive outcome from such a dialogue. The Maoists are following the path of violence not only in Orissa but also in other States, he noted. "Until they shun violence and follow law of the land, I cannot see how talks can take place," he told journalists after returning from a four-day visit to the national capital New Delhi. Naveen said that his Government was open to talks with the Maoists for the last several years "but they never came forward." "Not only in our State, now they are indulging in crime, murder and terrible acts in other parts of the country also," Patnaik said.

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist involved in many crimes including murder were arrested from forest areas under Gudari Police Station in Rayagada District during a combing operation by the Police, Superintendent of Police A. K. Singh told reporters in Rayagada. The trio belonging to Bansadhara committee of the Maoists was involved in a number of criminal offences, including murder, arson, violent attacks and loot and extortion, he said.

Swami Arupananda, a Hindu cleric, claimed he received a letter from the Maoists, threatening to kill him like they killed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist, allegedly involved in the killing of 10 CISF personnel at the NALCO plant in Damanjodi in Koraput District in April 2009, were arrested from Rayagada District late in the night. The Maoists, identified as Tuda Jagaranka and Gahi Jagaranka, aged between 25 and 30 years, were arrested during combing operations by the elite anti-Naxal force Special Operation Group at Seriguda in the Gudari area, the Rayagada District Superintendent of Police A. K. Singh said.

A day after the holding up of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express train by the People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) and CPI-Maoist in West Bengal, the Orissa Government identified at least seven rail routes "vulnerable" to attacks by the insurgents, official sources said. The routes identified as "prone" to a Maoist attack are located mostly in the Koraput, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Sundergarh Districts. These routes are Rourkela-Bimalagah-Kiribur, Rourkela-Jariekela, Boinda-Jujumara, Tamka-Keonjhar, Rayagada-Koraput, Koraput-Gorapur and Rayagada-Jhimiripeta lines. The respective District Superintendent of Police has been directed to make adequate arrangements for passenger safety in consultation with the Railways, official sources said.

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested by Security Forces during combing operation in Gudari area of Rayagada District.

Over 20 cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including women, raided the house of Sunaram Tudu (35) at Rebana village under Daitary Police Station in Keonjhar District in the night and lynched him suspecting him to be a Police informer. The Maoists later assaulted another villager, identified as Trinath Mahanto, and abducted him. There is no trace of Mahanto as yet, the villagers said.

A top CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Balabhadra Madhi (30), was arrested in the Malkangiri District. The Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said Madhi was arrested during a combing operation by the CRPF and SOG in Salimarikuanda forest in Kalimela area while moving in a suspicious manner. During interrogation, it was found that Madhi is an 'area commander' of the Maoists.

The Balimela-Chitrakonda road which connects Andhra Pradesh with Orissa was blocked by the Maoists putting boulders and felling trees near Chidrakonda Ghat in protest against the planned anti-Maoist operation of the Government. As a result, Chitrakonda remained cut off from the District headquarter town, Police said.

Several rounds of ammunition were fired in a two-hour-long encounter between Police and Maoists at a forest near Kondajam village in Rayagada District. There was no report of casualties. "Quite a few rebels were injured during the encounter," said a Police officer. The encounter took place when a special action team of the Maoists, who included cadres from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, came face to face with a team of the SOG and CRPF.

About 50 armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked the guest house of a steel company at Gajiagoda in the Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri District around midnight and set it ablaze, the District Superintendent of Police (SP), Satyabrata Bhoi, said. The Maoists assaulted the guard of the guest house and stormed the building. The insurgents also assaulted two engineers of the company and locked them up in a nearby house, he said, adding that the two were later rescued.

Normal life was affected in the Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati Districts on the first day of the shutdown called by the Maoists to protest against the Centre's decision to launch counter-insurgency operations against them and alleged Police excesses, Police sources said.

The Maoists threatened to kill the SP of Koraput, Deepak Kumar Chauhan, in a letter addressed to the officer. The insurgents have asked him to stop all ongoing anti-Maoist operations or face the consequences. "Stop all anti-Maoist exercises in the District and withdraw SOG and CRPF personnel from such operations. If you do not obey us, you will be killed," the SP said quoting the letter. According to the SP, the Maoists have named a couple of other Police officers in their letter and warned them to refrain from anti-Maoist operations.

Normal life was affected in southern parts of Orissa following the shut down call of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) who set ablaze two trucks in Sundargarh District. About 15 Maoists stopped two trucks in Anandpur village on old Ranchi road near Orissa-Jharkhand border and asked the driver and helper to step out and set the two vehicles ablaze, Police said.

Former Inspector in-Charge of Kotgarh Police Station in Kandhamal District H. K. Pradhan told Justice S. C. Mohapatra, probing the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxamananda Saraswati and the violence thereafter that "Maoists might have killed Saraswati to get the support of Christians."

A cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Purna Murmu, involved in several criminal cases including murder was arrested from Ghasisahi under Ghasipura Police Station in Keonjhar District. The Maoist was spotted by the Police at a function for distribution of land "pattas" to tribals, Police said.

Villagers began an indefinite blockade of a national highway at Silipunji near Rourkela in Sundergarh District demanding release of 30 people, who were arrested for allegedly having links with Maoists. About 500 villagers of Chandiposh, Mundatola and Silipunji under Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh District, led by Birmitrapur MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) George Tirkey, sat on a dharna (sit-in) claiming that the Police had arrested innocent villagers branding them as Maoists. They blocked NH-23 linking Rourkela and Bhubaneswar via Talcher by felling trees leaving hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks, stranded. Thirty people from three villages were arrested on August 27 on charges of having links with the Maoists, who had abducted Ajit Bardhan, sub-inspector of Koida Police Station, on July 16.

Sources in Orissa Police said that Maoists are now engaged in building a new corridor from Andhra Pradesh to Chhattisgarh via southern Orissa Districts of Koraput and Malkangiri. The planned corridor starts in Andhra Pradesh, crosses the Orissa border at Narayanpatna in Koraput District, passes through Pottangi and Machkund in the same District before meeting Mudulipada and Mathili in Malkangiri District along the Orissa-Chhattisgarh border. "Maoists have almost through with their job. We have also reports of the rebels organising camps near Mudulipada, but are unable to confirm it,'' a top Police officer involved in anti-insurgency operations said on condition of anonymity.

A cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Muda Kabasi, a key suspect in the murder of a village head, was arrested by the personnel of CRPF and SOG from Lachhipuram village forest in Malkangiri District. Kabasi (35), who was suspected to be involved in the killing of the head of Binayakpur, Banda Reddy, seven months ago, confessed to having been associated with the CPI-Maoist for the past four years, District Superintendent of Police (SP) Satyabrata Bhoi said. The Police also seized some pamphlets from the extremist.

Police unearthed a landmine and detonator, planted on the BG-Kashidihi road close to Orissa-Jharkhand border in Mayurbhanj District. The landmine was unearthed by Police after being tipped off by locals, a senior Police officer said. "About 20 kg explosives, detonators and wire used for triggering the blast were recovered," the officer said. The Maoists had put up posters and leaflets in the area some days ago.

The body of a forest guard, Kirish Rout (35), who was shot dead by Maoists in Kutrabeda inside Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary on November 15, was recovered by the Komna Police in the night of November 16. He belonged to Dhekunpani village in Sunabeda gram panchayat. The poster left behind by the Maoists claiming responsibility for the murder was also seized. The Naupada Superintendent of Police, Bibek Rath, confirmed the involvement of Maoists in the murder. He said that preliminary investigation revealed that 20 to 25 Maoists had descended on the place before committing the crime. However, senior forest officials said that Kirish may have been killed for being a suspected Police informer.

A former ward member of the Sunabeda Panchayat (village level local self Government institution), Chandar Singh Barge (60), was shot dead by cadres of the CPI-Maoist inside the Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary in Nuapada District. The Maoists left behind a poster which stated that Barge was punished for refusing to toe their line. It is suspected that Chhattisgarh-based Maoists are involved in the killing as the sanctuary is located along the Orissa-Chhattisgarh border. Barge was reportedly close to forest officials and was a member of the forest committee at the panchayat level. He was reportedly targeted by the Maoists for his role in facilitating development projects inside the sanctuary and his proximity with forest officials.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS were killed when Police opened fire on them to prevent arms loot at the Narayanpatna Police Station of Koraput District. Inspector in charge of the Narayanpatna Police Station, Jagabandhu Sahu, also received a bullet while trying to save the fire arms from the activists of CMAS. One of the two CMAS cadres killed in the Police firing was identified as K. Singhana. The identity of the other was yet to be ascertained. Koraput District Collector Gadadhar Parida said the firing occurred around 2.45 pm (IST). Some 300 CMAS cadres had gheraoed the Police Station demanding removal of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel from the area. They were opposed to the combing operation of Security Force personnel against the Maoists.

It was alleged that they also entered into a scuffle with the CRPF personnel posted near the Police Station. Some CMAS members broke open the lock of the main gate of the Police Station and rushed inside. They tried to snatch an AK47 and an SLR rifle held by the sentries of the Police Station and run away. During this tussle to snatch the firearm, one rifle went off and the bullet hit the inspector in charge of the Police Station in his leg. The sentries posted on the rooftop of the Police Station fired at the persons who were trying to escape snatching the firearms. As per initial reports more than 20 rounds were fired. Two of the CMAS activists died on the spot.

Before this incident, insurgents had cut down trees to block the Bandhugaon-Narayanpatna road since morning.

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said that Orissa would be provided additional battalions of Central forces to fight Maoists after the Assembly polls in neighbouring Jharkhand. He added that there had been delay in sending Central forces to the State due to holding of elections in several States in the recent months. The State has four battalions of Central forces for anti-Maoist operations, and it has sought another seven battalions for the purpose.

The SFs continued to make further inroads into Narayanpatna Block of Koraput District, bastion of the CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS, and in the process, arrested some key leaders of the outfit. The leader of women's wing of CMAS, Kumudini Behera, and legal advisor Sahadev Parida, were among the nine arrested by the SFs, who took control of the area where the tribal outfit enjoyed full authority till a few weeks back. With November 22 arrest, the total number of those arrested has gone up to 12. Police have booked some of its members on charges of murder, arson and rioting in the last few months. During November 19 operation, a vehicle of the CMAS was seized by the Police. Sources said search operation is still on in the villages.

Kumudini led women's wing took the lead in the outfit's offensive in the Block (administrative division). With 'military commander' Wadeka Singana is dead, the CMAS seems to be cornered as their leader Nachika Linga has gone into hiding, the report added. In fact, top leaders of a number of organisations sympathetic to CMAS are believed to have gone underground after the incident.

10 persons, who had reportedly received bullet injuries in November 21 incident, are yet to be traced. Police suspect they are not seeking medical treatment fearing arrest.

Policemen conducting a search operation in the Maoist insurgency-affected area exchanged fire with activists of the CPI-Maoist backed CMAS outfit in Koraput District. "Some persons opened fire on a Police team, which was conducting search operation in Narayanpatna area," Superintendent of Police of Koraput District, Deepak Kumar, said. The Police retaliated but none was injured in the firing, he added. The incident occurred three days after two members of the CMAS were killed when Police opened fire to prevent them from looting arms from a Police Station in Narayanpatna on November 20.

Policemen conducting a search operation in the Maoist insurgency-affected area exchanged fire with activists of the CPI-Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) in Koraput District. "Some persons opened fire on a Police team, which was conducting search operation in Narayanpatna area," Superintendent of Police of Koraput District, Deepak Kumar, said. The Police retaliated but none was injured in the firing, he added. The incident occurred three days after two members of the CMAS were killed when Police opened fire to prevent them from looting arms from a Police Station in Narayanpatna on November 20.

Security has been tightened in three Districts of South Orissa following the appearance of posters put up by the CPI-Maoist, warning the Police against alleged atrocities committed by them. The Police said additional armed Police force was deployed in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal Districts as the posters were found in public places like the panchayat (village level local self government institution) office and the bazaar (market), besides being pasted on passenger buses. All posters and leaflets have been seized and their genuineness is being verified, Police said. They speak about alleged atrocities committed by the Police on tribals in the past in places like Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur District and Maikancha and Mandrabaju areas of Kandhamal District. The posters were found in large numbers in Baragada, situated near dense forests, in Ganjam District.

The CPI-Maoist in the night damaged an excavator used for laying a village road under Pradhan Mantri Gramya Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) near Daringbadi in the Kandhamal District. According to sources, some 15 armed Maoists tried to set ablaze the excavator near Danekbadi village at a distance of 15 kilometres from Daringbadi. The excavator was being used for construction of the Danekbadi-Padenketa road under PMGSY. Maoists are opposed to construction of roads to interior areas.

Maoists in the Malkangiri District threatened the youths to refrain from joining the Police force and to resist combing operations by the Security Forces (SFs). These posters are seen in Kalimela, Bhejangwada, MV-79, Motu, Chitrakonda and Govindpalli areas. Maoists called upon the people to cooperate to make their PLGA week celebration a success. The posters and leaflets also demanded removal of personnel of the CRPF and CoBRA battalion from Maoist-infested areas. According to citizens of Malkangiri, usually the District gets gripped by panic of possible violence by Maoists during the PLGA week starting December 2.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepak Kumar Chouhan said out of the 15 persons arrested from a house in Jangdibalsa of Bandhugaon block bordering Narayanpatna on November 28 five were suspected to be hardcore Maoist cadres. Chouhan said that while most of the arrested persons were localites, two of them -- Tapan Mishra and Padmanav Sahu -- were from outside the District. According to him, the duo was staying at the Maoist camp that was raided. The SFs had acted on specific intelligence to conduct the raid. While most persons related to the camp had escaped, Police had managed to detain some, he said. Police had released the innocent villagers after preliminary enquiry and interrogation. 15 persons with Maoist links were arrested. The SP also displayed the articles and arms of Maoists seized during the raid. During the raid, 68 pairs of Maoist uniforms, six SMC guns, five SBBL guns, approximately six kilograms of gun powder, 10 electrical detonators, camera flash, wire, a wireless communication set, four rounds of ball ammunitions, banners, posters and literatures were seized. The SP said the evidences found from the spot linked Chasi Mulai Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) with the Maoists. Some of the arrested persons were also part of the CMAS. The seizure of SMC guns from the Maoist camp was a cause of concern as these guns are used for mass destruction, Chouhan added.

Four Maoists from neighbouring State of West Bengal, allegedly involved in a recent attack on JMM leader Sudama Marandi, were arrested from Mayurbhanj District. "The ultras were picked up during a combing operation in Bisusola forest in Suliapada Police Station area near West Bengal border," Superintendent of Police, Mayurbhanj, Dayal Gangwar said. The arrestees identified as Jagat Soren (20), Rohia Soren (20), Bhujaram soren (20) and Tharahari Soren (25), were residents of Patharneta village in Gopiballabhpur Police Station area of West Bengal, he said. "Preliminary investigation and interrogation showed they were involved in several incidents of violence including the attack on JMM leader Sudama Marandi on October 13 near here," he added. Though Marandi escaped unhurt, an assistant sub-inspector of Police and two personnel of Special Operation Group (SOG) were killed in the attack, the Police said.

Hundreds of tribals associated with the Maoist backed outfit 'Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh' (CMAS), after being fed up of the violence, surrendered before the Police in the Narayanpatna region on an unspecified date. The tribals were involved in agitations, and had forcibly occupied lands belonging to non-tribals across Narayanpatna, causing unrest in the region. But disillusioned with the life of violence and bloodshed, the tribals, who claim that they were forced into joining CMAS by the outfit's leaders, gave up arms in order to join mainstream.

The CPI-Maoist has come out in support of CMAS and called for bandh (shut down) on December 8 in protest against Police firing on CMAS activists at Narayanpatna in Koraput District.

Police put up posters of Nachika Linga, president of CMAS, in different parts of the District to arrest him. Linga heads the Maoist-backed CMAS Narayanpatna unit and is involved in several cases, including the attack on Narayanpatna Police Station.

The Orissa Police urged the State Government to ban the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh CMAS which is active in Koraput District for its violent activities as well as links with the CPI-Maoists. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, south-west range, Sanjeev Panda, said they have recommended the State Government to ban the CMAS for maintenance of law and order in Koraput especially in the violence-prone Naraynpatna block of the District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres blew up an under-construction Police outpost in the Malkanagiri District of Orissa. "It was an under-construction Police outpost. CPI-Maoist blew up part of the building. We had planned this outpost to increase our presence by Stationing more armed personnel there," Malkanagiri Sub Divisional Police Officer Anup Sahu said. According to Police, about 40 CPI-Maoist were involved in the attack.

The SF personnel recovered 10 landmines and huge quantity of detonators in the Sundargarh District, reports Orissadailry.com. The seizures were made during a joint combing operation by the SFs in different Naxal (left wing extremisms)-infested villages under K Balang Police Station, they said. During the search, nine landmines, one claymore mine, 10 tension batteries, 150 metres wire and some Maoist literature were recovered.

The villagers' assured that henceforth they would not allow the entry of Maoists into their villages, said District Superintendent of Police Diptesh Patnaik, adding, that the area was infested with Maoists. Even though it is not possible to provide security to each and every individual, the villagers' cooperation will ensure a sense of security and safety. If the villagers do not cooperate with the Maoists, the insurgents have to retreat, he added.

Earlier several residents belonging to Mahupada, Langalakata, Jharbeda, Sanbalijore and Rehlatur villages had taken shelter in K Balang since December 10 after Maoists had issued whip to either support them or face death penalty. The threat came after the villagers demanded security following an attack on a man by Maoists, suspecting him to be a Police informer, in Mahupada village on December 10. The locals who were fed up with the Maoists activities and went to the Police, the report added.

Four suspected CPI-Maoist cadres, including three from neighbouring State of Jharkhand, were arrested during combing operation at Taiburu forest in the Sundargarh District bordering Orissa-Jharkhand, Police said. The extremists, arrested on December 16, were allegedly involved in the killing of Koida Police Sub-Inspector Ajit Bardhan on July 16, 2009 at Jharbeda under Banki, they said. One of the arrestee was identified as Guru Charan Singh of Mahupada village in K. Balang area and the rest three hails from Nuagam village in Jharkhand. A joint combing operation by the SF was on in Maoist-infested villages bordering Jharkhand after Maoists assaulted one Harekrushna Singh of Mahupada on December 10, suspecting him to be Police informer. During the combing, the SF personnel had recovered nine can bombs, a claymore mine and a huge quantity of materials used to prepare explosive devices, Police said.

Many residents of five villages affected by Maoist menace had deserted their villages and staged dharna (protest) near K. Balang Police Station and its adjoining NH-23 on December 11 demanding security. They returned only after security camps were opened at Jharbeda and Mahupada villages. The villagers of Relhatura, Sanbalijore and Nanglakata have been demanding similar security camps at their villages. The villagers numbering about 400 have left their homes on December 16 and taken shelter at K Balang town.

The Maoists reportedly had damaged three Government buildings, including the local panchayat (village level local self Government situation) office, at Relhatur. Around 100 armed Maoists stormed into Relhatur village and blew up the panchayat office and its adjoining panchayat store building. An eyewitness said the Maoists were shouting anti-Government slogans, daring villagers to call the Police. The extremists also pasted hand written posters at nearby villages of Rengeda and Topadih. The people of Mahupada, Jharbeda, Relhatur, Sanbalijore and Nangalkata village had earlier left their houses out of fear and staged a dharna (protest) before K Balang Police Station and NH No 215 demanding security. The villagers had returned only three days ago, after security camps were opened in their villages. The District administration had held a "civil action" programme at Relhatur on December 17 and announced several development programmes and appealed to villagers to cooperate with Police to tackle the menace in their area. Superintendent of Police (Rourkela) Diptesh Patnaik said additional Police force with senior officers will be rushed to Relhatur and joint combing operation will be intensified.

Power generation at the Balimela hydroelectricity project in the Malkangiri District was disrupted following an attack by Maoists on the infrastructure of the unit during the early hours of December 19. Power Hindu, Malkangiri had not resumed at the unit till evening. Speaking to The Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said about a dozen armed Maoists launched the attack at around 12.30am. The project is located in a remote area around 60 kilometres from Malkangiri. The Maoists were targeting the areas of the unit that had low security. When the Maoists reached the tunnel camp of the project, it was deserted. Then the attack took place.

A Police van carrying two platoons of the CRPF personnel had a narrow escape when a landmine, triggered by the CPI-Maoist, exploded in the Sundargarh District, Police said. There was no report of injury to the vehicle or any personnel, they said. The blast took place at Kamarposh on NH-215 under K. Balang Police Station, about 80 kilometres from Rourkela. The explosion occurred as soon as the Police van passed the culvert at around 11am (IST) and under its impact the small bridge was partially damaged, the sources said. The extremists were believed to have planted the landmine beneath a culvert to restrict the force movement on combing operation, continuing for two days following Maoists attack at Relhatur, a nearby village, on December 19.

A landmine, triggered by the CPI-Maoist cadres, blew up the parapets of a culvert on NH 215 in the Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh District. The blast appeared to be another attempt by the Maoists to make their presence felt amid mounting pressure from the Security Forces combing the area with the help of local tribals. The blast took place around noon and was targeted at a location close to a forested hilly terrain. The explosion was not powerful and it left only the parapets damaged. The expressway is a key link between Rajamunda and Panikoili. Normal vehicular traffic, however, continued. Rourkela Superintendent of Police Diptesh Patnaik played down the incident, by saying that the Security Forces are working overtime to sanities the areas.

The Union Government has released INR 23.79 crore during the current financial year for modernisation of Police forces. Sources said that INR 49.18 crore has been sanctioned by the Union Government for 2009-10 under the scheme. While the State Government had fully utilised INR 38 crore released by the Union Government for modernisation of the forces in 2006-07, during the 2007-08, it had utilised INR 42.52 crore out of the INR 45.8 crore released by the Centre. The central allocation under the scheme in 2008-09 was INR 42.54 crore. The utilisation certificates from the states for the central funds released in 2008-09 will become due on April 1, 2010. The utilisation certificates for the funds released in 2009-10 will be due on April 1, 2011. A high powered committee under the chairmanship of additional secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs has been constituted to approve the annual action plans under the scheme and monitor the progress of the implementation of the action plans. At the State level, an empowered committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of the states concerned exists for monitoring the implementation. In addition, a system of concurrent audit of central funds has been introduced from the last quarter of the financial year 2008-09 to oversee the utilisation.

In a series of attacks, the Maoists on December 23 blew up four school buildings and one healthcare centre in the areas bordering Jharkhand. The villages fall under Banki and K. Balang Police Stations in the Bonai sub-division of Sundargarh District. Four massive explosions, triggered between 9am (IST) and 1.15pm, saw Mahupada primary school, B. Jharbera upper primary and high schools and B. Jharbera primary health centre being razed to the ground. The residential school at Sanbalijodi was blown up in the night of December 22.

The Maoists blew up a mobile tower at Kiang in the Malkangiri District. The mobile tower of a private telecom company was badly damaged in the landmine blast, Police said. Communication was disrupted in the highly forested Malkangiri District due to damage to the mobile tower, Superintendent of Police Satyabrat Bhoi said.

There has been mass exodus of villagers from B. Jharbera, Langalkata, Karampada, Mahupada, Sanbalijodi and Relhatu located on the hilly terrains since the evening of December 23 following the Maoist attacks. Panic-stricken tribals, including women and children, accompanied by the Security Forces, trudged miles to reach K. Balang. They were shifted from their temporary camps at B Jharbera and Mahupada. Inspector General of Police (WR) Prana Bindu Acharya told Express Buzz that the situation was being assessed and that normalcy would be restored soon. The armed Maoists are believed to have formed groups and fanned out to different locations. At B. Jharbera, over 50 Maoists, including gun-wielding women cadre, were spotted. Altogether, 13 explosions were reported but there was no official confirmation.

13 persons, arrested on the charge of being involved in the Maoist attack on R. Udaygiri town in Gajapati District, were acquitted by a court in Paralakhemundi. The Maoist attack on R. Udaygiri occurred in March 2006.

A woman CPI-Maoist was killed and three security force personnel injured in an exchange of fire between the two sides at Pallur in the Koraput District. The exchange of fire took place when personnel of the Special Operation Group, the State's elite anti-Maoist force, were going on a combing operation in the Pallur area under Narayanpatna Police Station, said Sub Divisional Police Officer (Narayanapatna) Y. J. Rao. The gun battle, which began near the place where 10 personnel were killed in a landmine blast on June 18, was continuing till the report last came in, he added.

A trooper of the SOG, elite anti-Naxalite (left wing extremism) force, was also killed during a combing operation at Pallur in the Koraput District, nearly 500 km from here. As reported earlier, a woman CPI-Maoist cadre was killed and three SF personnel were injured in an exchange of fire between the two sides at Pallur in the Koraput District. Police suspects that at least two more Maoists might have been killed in the gun battle. "We recovered the body of the lady Maoist from the scene of the battle. An INSAS rifle was found near here. We believe there might be more casualties among the rebels and search operation is on to find dead bodies," Koraput Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said.

According to the report, a fierce gun battle between the SFs and the Maoists ensued when a group of around 30 Maoists ambushed a combing party inside forest at Pallur. The Maoists first detonated claymore mines targeting the combing party in which four SOG personnel were injured. Then they fired at them from their hideout provoking return fire from the SFs. While one SOG trooper died on the spot in the landmine explosion, three others sustained bullet injuries.

A 60-year-old man and a teen-aged boy, suspected to be Maoists, were arrested on December 24 for allegedly launching an attack on the Similipal National Park in March 2009.. Police sources said the man, Laxminarayan Isa, who belonged to Kanshpada village of West Bengal's Burdwan District and the 15-year-old Kanhu Barik, a resident of Badauski village within the national park, were arrested for their alleged role in the attack and suspected links with the Maoists.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, allegedly involved in the assassination of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxamananda Saraswati, were arrested in the Rayagada District, Police said on December 26. The arrests were made by Security Force (SF) personnel engaged in anti-Maoist operation in the dense forests of Tembaguda, about 120 kilometres from Rayagada on December 25, Nilakantha Patra, inspector-in-charge of the Police Station, said. The Maoists identified as Suna Gandalaka, Dhobai Kadraka, Bhapei Praska and Gopala Pidikaka of nearby villages were allegedly involved in a number of crimes, including the killing of the VHP leader in 2008 and Nayagarh attack in 2007. The SF personnel had seized a land mine, explosive substances, Maoists literature and banners from the extremists, Patra added.

Alert was sounded in three southern Orissa Districts in view of December 28 bandh (shut down) call by Maoists in protest against alleged Police excess against tribals in the Districts. "We have alerted Security Forces in vulnerable areas of Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal Districts in view of the bandh call given by the Naxalites", Deputy Inspector General of Police (Southern range) R. K. Sharma said.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze four buses, a mobile tower and blew up a forest department beat house in Gajapati and Malkangiri Districts, Police said. "Maoists have set ablaze four Government buses in the night. They set them on fire after forcing the passengers to get down around midnight. They have also set ablaze a mobile tower there. About 40 Maoists are involved in the incidents. We have rushed armed Policemen to the spot," said Superintendent of Police (Gajapati) Sanjeev Arora.

The Maoists blew up a forest department beat house and a mobile tower in Malkangiri District also. "Maoists have blown up a forest beat house at Orkel and a mobile tower in Chitrakonda chawk," said Anup Sahu, the sub-divisional Police officer of Malkangiri.

The Maoists reportedly blocked roads at different places in south Orissa by felling trees on to the roads. Passenger services were also hit on the Adaba-Rayagada and Brahmani Gaon-Rayagada routes and in Ajapati, Berhampur, Rayagada and Malkangiri too.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a shop and an auto rickshaw in the Raisuan village of Keonjhar District, Police said on December 29. "Maoists torched a shop last night [December 28]. About 20 armed Maoists had come and torched a shop and an auto," said Dhruba Charan Puhan, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Keonjhar. According to Police, the extremists set ablaze the shop by pouring petrol after asking the shop owner and his family members to leave. The Maoists have also left some literature, threatening the Police and some other individuals of the village.

Police said that six suspected Maoists were arrested during a joint combing operation by Security Force personnel in Sundargarh District. The arrests were made at Rubuda forests under K. Balang Police Station in the night of December 29, Sudarsan Sethi, SDPO of Bonai, said. The arrestees included Jagmohan Tarkode of neighbouring Jharkhand while the other five belonged to Relahatur village in Sundargarh District where the Maoists had triggered blasts damaging four school buildings and a hospital building last week. All the six were booked under five cases, including murder of Ajit Bardhan, sub-inspector of Koida Police Station in Sundargarh District and the recent blasting of school and hospital buildings.

One 18-year-old woman CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Laxmi Pidkaka alias Sunita, surrendered before the Police in the Rayagada District to escape from a forced marriage to a cadre from Chhattisgarh. Her disclosures after surrender revealed that the Maoists in south Orissa had started using force to marry off their women activists to cadres from Chhattisgarh deputed to Orissa. It is part of their effort not to let the disillusioned women cadres get away from the clutches of their violent outfit.

Speaking to The Hindu, the Superintendent of Police (Rayagada) Ashis Kumar Singh said recently the Maoist leaders in Orissa were not letting their women cadres from Orissa to marry any other cadre from the State. "The Maoists have the fear that such marriages lead to surrenders, which has happened in the past. This year two married Maoist couples had surrendered in Rayagada District," he said. In recent times Maoists from Chhattisgarh are being deputed to work in south Orissa by the Naxal outfit. According to the confession of Laxmi, the Maoist leaders have started to compel women cadres of marriageable age to marry these Maoists from Chhattisgarh. As both would be from separate States the man from Chhattisgarh would not agree to surrender in Orissa and it would be hard for the poor woman to escape from the clutches of Maoists and her hardcore Maoist husband from Chhattisgarh.