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Odisha Timeline 2011

Date

Incidents

January 1

At least five CPI-Maoist cadres, including three women, were killed in an encounter with the Police in Jajpur District.

January 4

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a trader, identified as Udaynath Sahu in Bhramarbari village under Daringbadi block in Kandhamal District.

A land mine, packed with 100 kilograms of explosives, planted by the Maoists under a small bridge was detected by the Police in Jajpur District. 'The land mine was planted beneath a culvert,' Superintendent of Police (SP) D S Kuttey said.

Police identifies the Maoists killed in the encounter with the Police in Jajpur District on January 1. The women Maoists are Sabitri, Baby, Sujata and Janga (12). Janga was a resident of Baligotha area of Kalinganagar. Other three are resident of Keonjhar District.

January 5

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reported that several railway projects announced for Odisha in the budget were not carried out and sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in their execution, saying it can check CPI-Maoist menace in the region.

January 6

Five female cadres of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the DIG, Western Range in Keonjhar District.

January 9

Cadres belonging to the CPI-Maoist including female cadres blew up a cabin signal point of Bandamunda railway station of Sundergarh District.

Nine cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including four women, were killed in an encounter with the District Voluntary Force and D-CAT, a special team of Rayagada Police in Rayagada District.

An exchange of fire also took place between a group of Maoists, led by Azad of Bansadhara divisional committee and SFs near Maliguda village under Kotgarh Police Station limits in Kandhamal District, Police said. There were no reports of casualty from either side. One self-loading rifle, a Maoists kitbag and explosive material were seized from the spot, though the Maoists managed to escape.

The Maoists called a bandh in Kandhamal, Gajapati and Rayagada District on January 10, protesting ‘Operation Green Hunt’.

Six suspected Maoists, including a woman, were arrested from Bisra area while the woman was arrested from Bandamunda in connection with the Maoist attack at Bandamunda railway station of Sundergarh District. Preliminary investigation suggested that all the six were involved in blasting of signal cabin at the Bandamunda railway station and planting of landmine in Jareikela Police outpost and Bisra panchayat office, Police claimed.

On the second day of the Maoist bandh call vehicles in remote pockets of the District remained off the road. The bandh call disrupted passenger transportation in Daringbadi, Kotgarh and Tumudibandh blocks in Kandhamal District.

The Maoists had damaged two mobile communication towers at Aligonda in the District.

January 10

A CPI-Maoist linkman and two suspected cadres from West Midnapore District [West Bengal] were arrested by the Odisha and West Bengal Police in Cuttack District, Police said in Jhargram.

Odisha Home Secretary UN Behera aid the State now could successfully prevent CPI-Maoist attacks as it had "adequate force comprising five battalions of BSF and seven battalions of CRPF besides its elite anti-Maoist SOG". About 50 units of SOG were engaged in anti-Maoist operation in the State, Officials said. [One unit of SOG has 30 members.]

The Home Secretary described the encounter in Badangmali area of Rayagada District on January 9 as an ‘intelligence based operation’, and said the State has developed intelligence network to track Maoists movements. Odisha Government feels implementation of IAP in 15 Maoist-hit and backward areas have started paying dividend. About INR 8.5 billion would be spent on these developmental works in next two years, the Home Secretary added.

The Police identified all the nine Maoists killed in the encounter of January 9 in Rayagada District and confirmed that one of those killed was D Srinivas Rao alias Rabi alias Devvuri alias Srinu alias Ramesh, a top Maoist, heading a unit of the Bansadhara division of the outfit and considered as 'guru' of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, Times of India reported on January 10.

The Maoists also burnt down a truck near Adaba in Gajapati District.

January 11

Three civilians, including two officials of the State Agricultural Department were injured when cadres of the CPI-Maoist triggered a landmine blast targeting the vehicle they were traveling near Odiapentha village in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District.

Further, Police has claimed that the Maoist fatality in the encounter on January 9, in Rayagada District has gone up to 13. But the Police are yet to come up with the identity of the rest four which it is claming.

January 12

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed in an encounter with the Police, SOG and CRPF in Pancham hills in Rebana- Bansapal forest in Daitari area under Harichandanpur Police station in Keonjhar District. After the encounter the Police seized the dead bodies and two guns from the spot. The Police are yet to identify the killed Maoists.

The Maoists have threatened to blow up Police out Post of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack District. The Commissionerate Police has increased the security of SCB Medical College and Hospital campus.

January 13

The Planning Commission denouncing bureaucratization of the recently launched IAP to contain Maoists terror, the Odisha Government, said that it was ready to take panchayat functionaries in the plan. District collectors are free to take any member from panchayat bodies or civil societies in the implementation of IAP, Special Secretary, Planning and Coordination RV Singh told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

January 14

Three top cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested from Batiguda forests in Kalimela Police Station area in Malkangiri District during a combing operation by the SOG and DVF. They are identified as Bhima Padiami, Deba Madhi and Ganga Sodi of Rajolkanda gram panchayat area. However, two senior Maoist leaders, Damodar and Akash of Kalimela Dalam, could manage to escape from the site, SP Anirudha Singh said, adding that two fire arms, some posters and dress used by Maoist cultural wing, were seized by the SOG and DVF.

January 15

Five cadres of Kalinga Nagar division committee of the CPI-Maoist including a minor boy and a woman surrendered before SP in Jajpur District. They are identified as Tima Mahakud, Dobra Tudu, Junguri Tiria, Lutu Hembram (23) and Saley Palea (13).

Odisha Government has decided to strengthen its anti-Naxalite (LWE) Force, Official sources said. "A proposal to increase strength of SOG and DVF has been accepted by the State Government," DGP Manmohan Praharaj said.

January 17

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including two women, were arrested from Jujumura forest in Sambalpur District.

While Sulochana is wanted in about 20 cases in Deogarh, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Sundargarh and Nayagarh, Sarita was involved in almost all the Maoist violence in Rourkela and Jharkhand area, he said.

A group of around 15 cadres of the CPI-Maoist set ablaze five vehicles being used in the laying of a road under the PMGSY at Barada village in the Badagada Police Station limits in Sorada block of Ganjam District.

The incident occurred a few hours before a bandh call given by Maoists in adjoining Kandhamal District. According to sources, the Maoists gave the bandh call to protest against the killing of nine of their cadre in an encounter with Security Forces at Basangmali forest in the Kashipur Police Station limits in Rayagada District on January 9.

January 19

A top ranking CPI-Maoist Narasingha Gangi surrendered before Chitrakonda Police in Malkangiri District. Gangi is a resident of Baderu village of Didamula Division of Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh, the Police said.

The Maoists triggered two Bomb blasts in the Tangi Block Office in Khurdha District. Earlier, the BDO had received death threat from the Maoists. Police recovered two Maoist posters from the wall of Block Office. In the poster they mentioned that the corruption of the Block is increasing and the BDO is involved in the corruption.

January 20 - 21

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked a camp of a construction firm involved in construction of remote rural road under PMGSY and set ablaze a poclain machine in Ganjam District.

January 23

A leader of the CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS, identified as Rama Padhi Puhala (35) was arrested from Bandhugaon in Narayanpatna area of Koraput District. "He was wanted by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Police for his involvement in more than 12 criminal cases including murder, arson and rioting," SP A.K. Sahu said.

The DG of BSF Raman Srivastava reviewed the ongoing anti-Maoist operations in the worst-affected Malkangiri District.

January 24

During a combing operation, a bomb disposal squad defused the explosives weighing around 50 kilograms planted by the cadres of the CPI-Maoist near Barada village, 15 kilometres from Baragada in Ganjam District. The Police also recovered three landmines and 25 detonators from the reported site, SP (Ganjam) Nitinjit Singh said.

January 25

A retired school teacher, identified as Nargo Subhasundar (65), of Minjapanka village under Brahmanigaon Police Station limits was reportedly abducted and subsequently killed by the cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Kandhamal District. DIG R. K. Sharma said the dead body was recovered by the personnel of SOG.

Two persons, suspected to be Maoist sympathisers, were arrested from Jareikela under Bisra Police Station in Sundargarh District, the Police said. Hemanta Gope and Manoj Lakra were travelling in a bus from Rourkela to Jareikela when the Police stopped the bus, checked the passengers and their luggage and arrested them, sources said.

A black flag and some Maoist posters were found at the Loharkhandi Bridge near Bhanjanagar areas of Ganjam District. The Maoist posters were against the observation of Republic Day. The miscreants had urged the public to observe Republic Day (January 26) as black day.

January 26

On the Republic day celebration, the District Collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil handed over the cheque of INR 300, 000 each to the family members of Lokanath Mandia Sahoo of Gadaba village, Hari Sahukar of Katulpeta village under Bandhugan Block, B. Biswanath of Balipeta village, and Kumudini Sunabudi of Manpadi village under Narayanpatna Block in Koraput District. The Central Government had sanctioned INR 300, 000 each to the family of five persons killed by the Maoists.

January 27

A village sarpanch, identified as Srikant Samant, of Chandiposh in Sundergarh District was arrested for supplying explosives to CPI-Maoist. Samant was arrested after Police recovered a huge catch of explosives including gelatine sticks, detonators and fuse wires from Chandiposh panchayat building, SP Diptesh Patnaik said.

January 28

The Police in Sundargarh District arrested a CRPF trooper, identified as Satyaban Bhoi (38), and a motor mechanic, identified as Tarun Das, for their reported links with the CPI-Maoist.

January 29

The Policemen and CRPF personnel came across a camp of the CPI-Maoist during a combing operation in Krupani reserve forest under Bandugaon Police Station area in Sundargarh District.

January 30

Two top cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested by the SOG and the DVF personnel during a combing operation at Techguda forest under Kalimela Police Station limits in Malkangiri District.

The Maoists gave a three-day bandh call in Raighar block of Nabarangpur District from January 30. They cut down trees to block the Raighar-Kundei road.

February 1

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik speaking at the CM's conference on internal security sought the inclusion of four more Naxal (LWE)-affected Districts, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bargarh and Bolangir under the Centre's Security-related Expenditure Scheme (SRE) in addition to the existing 15 Districts.

A top CPI-Maoist, identified as Kushal Kerketa (24), was arrested by a joint team of Police and CRPF during a combing operation from Nuagaon-Raidihi village under Bonai sub-division in Sundargarh District along Jharkhand border.

February 3

The CPI-Maoist in Odisha have given a call for Bharat bandh on February 7 and asked people to protest against price rise and large-scale corruption in the State for three days from February 4.

Addressing the 55th Senior Police Officers' conference at Cuttack, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the LWE violence in the State has declined in 2010 compared to the previous year, 2009.

Further, asked the Senior Police Officers of the State to honour Human Rights and uphold the dignity of the general public while performing their official duties.

February 6

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested from a forest located in Muniguda Police Station area in Rayagada District and a huge quantity of posters and other publicity materials seized from them, Police said.

Meanwhile, around 5,000 members of the Maoist-backed CMAS and BAMS organised a rally at Narayanpatna in Koraput District demanding removal of BSF camp from their area.

During the Bharat Bandh called by the Maoists, a strong group of armed Maoists opened fire at a passenger train at Pattasahi near Chandiposh. No casualty was reported in the incident.

February 7

CPI-Maoist 'commander' Samir Thalko was shot dead in an encounter with Security Forces inside Chandiposh forest area in Sundergarh District. Thalko was involved in the killing of Ajit Bardhan, Sub-inspector of Koida Police Station, in 2009. A 9-mm pistol and 30 rounds of live cartridges were found from his possession, the Police said.

February 9

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist damaged the Police outpost at remote Subarnagiri in the limits of Kotagarh Police Station in Kandhamal District. According to the Police, no one was injured at the Police outpost during the attack as no armed Policemen were deployed at the remote outpost during night. As per eyewitnesses, a group of around 40 Maoists reached the Police outpost building at around midnight. They broke into it and ransacked it. They also set ablaze the documents and furniture of the outpost. They pasted some posters at the spot. Through them the Maoists opposed construction of a building near the outpost which could be used as a barrack for security personnel in future. They threatened to kill anyone who would get involved in the construction work. They also opposed the measures of the Police to build up relations with people living in remote areas through Jan Sampark Sivir (Public Relation Camps).

February 10

Four Maoists, involved in several cases of crime, were arrested and a huge cache of arms and explosives seized in Keonjhar District, according to the Police. Three Maoists were arrested during combing by CRPF personnel and State Policemen from Chutung forest near Rebana-Palaspal area, while another was arrested from a jungle in Telkoi area. Six detonators, two gelatine sticks, batteries and wires, a locally-made rifle, some ammunition and volumes of Maoist literature like leaflets, books and posters were seized from the them.

February 11

At least three cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including an 'area commander', were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces in Sundargarh District. The exchange of fire took place during a joint combing operation by the CRPF troopers and DVF, a specialised force of Armed Police Reserve trained in anti-Maoist warfare, in the Saranda forest under Bisra Police Station limit, bordering Jharkhand, CRPF sources said. Bodies of three Maoists were recovered after the gun battle, they said, adding one of the deceased was identified as Mohammad Musleem, 'area commander' of Maoists in Digha and Jareikela areas in Jharkhand. Musleem has at least 40 cases lodged against him for murder and attack on Government establishments in the District and East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. One of the other two killed Maoists was a Nepali while the identity of the third could not be established. An American rifle, a 9-mm pistol, large quantity of cartridges and volumes of Maoist literature, including leaflets and posters, were recovered from the encounter site.

A SPO, identified as Narenga Mallick of Dunguda village, working with the Kotagada Police was killed by Maoists in Kandhamal District. The Maoists left a poster on the spot and mentioned that they have killed him as he has not resigned from the job. The posters also threatened the localities not to help the Police during combing operation. Maoists also threatened to kill the youths who would prefer to become home guards or SPOs. Earlier the Maoists have threatened Mallick to leave the job.

February 12

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed Kandri Lohar (23), a home guard, and her son Kanha (4), in Sundargarh District. Kandri, a resident of Sagjodi village of West Singhbhum District in Jharkhand, had joined the Maoists when she was 20. She left the Maoist outfit in 2005 and later joined Odisha Police as a home guard.

February 14

Four home guards resigned from their job fearing the CPI-Maoist in Kotagada Police Station in Kandhamal District.

February 16

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted R. Veenil Krishna, District Collector of Malkangiri District while he was returning after an interaction programme in K Gumma block of the District. The incident happened, just two days before Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's scheduled video-conference with the Collectors of 60 Maoist-hit Districts.

A team of CRPF troopers and Odisha SOG personnel, during their joint patrolling recovered and defused three landmines from two places along the Odisha-Jharkhand border, about 25 kilometers from Rourkela in Sundargarh District. Two landmines weighing about 10 kilograms each were recovered at a place between Raidihi and Nuagaon, while another landmine of about 25 kilograms was recovered between Mahuapada and Nuagaon road.

Four more home guards of Kotagarh Police Station, Trinath Paltasingh, Susant Baliarsingh, Kabi Chandra Nayak and Nilanchala Dandasena, have tendered their resignations to the Superintendent of Police citing the reason that they are being threatened by Maoists in Kandhamal District. Four of their colleagues resigned from the job citing the same reason on February 14.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a tribal, identified as Wadeka Nasanna, of Dandabadi village under Narayanpatna Block in Koraput District.

February 17

Government sources told that they had been able to make contact with Akkaraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna alias RK, a top Maoist leader who is on the Maoist central committee, to negotiate the safe release of the abducted District Collector and the junior engineer.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the Maoists to release the "young Collector who is known for his hard work for the poor and tribals". Residents of Malkangiri town observed a shutdown and held a massive rally demanding his safe release. In Kandhamal, Ganjam, Rayagada and Mayurbhanj, where Krishna had worked in various capacities, people organised rallies and enforced bandhs.

State Home Secretary U. N. Behera told that commando action was not being considered to free Krishna and Majhi.

February 18

Hours after a 48-hour ultimatum ran out the CPI-Maoist extended the deadline for the conditional release of Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi. With back-channel talks on, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to the Maoists for the safety of the captives. It is not clear by how long Maoists were prolonging the talks window.

Late in the night of February 17, the Maoists sent a release written in Telugu to some reporters, saying Someswara Rao, former professor of Economics at Sambalpur University, Haragopal, retired professor of Political Science, Central University, Hyderabad; and Ganjam (Odisha)-based convener of Political Prisoners Release Committee Dandapani Mohanty be made mediators.

The Maoists released a note signed by Bhaskar, a top Maoist, demanding release of Prasadam, Sudhakar, and Padma alias Sirisha, wife Andhra-Orissa Maoist chief Ramakrishna. Further, the Maoists demanded dropping of "false" cases against a number of their senior members and also sought land rights for tribals in Narayanpatra, scrapping of Polavaram irrigation project, stopping of bauxite mining at Mali and Deomali hills. They asked for irrigation in Kalimela block and tribal status for Nauka Dora and Konda Reddy communities as well. Orissa`s top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil, in an interview to a private news channel, warned of dire consequences if their demands were not met.

Maoists disrupted the road transport network in Malkangiri District by felling trees and triggering a landmine. The Maoists felled trees and dug up the Orissa state highway-25 at several places on the Govindapalli ghat section leading to Malkangiri.

February 20

The talks between the Odisha Government and mediators chosen by the CPI-Maoist began in Bhubaneswar for the release of abducted Malkangiri District collector R. V. Krishna and a junior engineer.

The State Government agreed not to oppose the bail petition of Prasadam when it comes up for hearing before a Koraput court, sources said.

Maoists are believed to have shifted Krishna and the junior engineer to another one of their strongholds after they came to know about a rescue bid by tribal villagers of the area.

February 21

The Naveen Patnaik Government accepted eight of the 14 demands of the CPI-Maoist made for the release of Malkangiri Collector R. Vineel Krishna and Junior Engineer Pabitra Majhi. ''We've so far agreed on eight issues based on specific Government measures and decisions,'' said Odisha Home Secretary U N Behera. He assured reporters that the captives were safe.

Behera read out a statement on the eight points of agreement. These were: (1) Odisha Government will write to Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to take action on the extremists demand for release of Maoist central committee (MCC) members Sheela di (jailed in Jharkhand) and Padma (in Chhattisgarh) owing to their ill-health; (2) Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Konda Reddy and Nukadora communities categorized as Other Backward Castes (OBCs); (3) stopping the multi-purpose Polavaram project of Andhra Pradesh; (4) 'pattas' (record of rights) to tribals dispossessed of their land in the District of Malkangiri and Koraput; (5) irrigation in Maribada and Maniamkonda villages in Malkangiri; (6) compensation based on High Court (HC) order to Tadangi Gangulu and Ratanu Sirika who died of disease allegedly due to torture; (7) relevant laws for mining operations in Mali and Deomali bauxite mines; (8) minimum displacement of tribals and adequate compensation.

Naveen Patnaik expressed in the State Assembly replying to a question of Naba Kishore Das in the legislature that 178 Maoists have surrendered before the Police from the year 2001 to 2010. As per the Surrender and Settlement Policy 2006 of the State Government, action is being taken for their settlement. Replying to a question of Pratap Sarangi, Patnaik expressed that 145 Maoists violence occurred during the year 2010-11 up to the month of January and 260 Maoist related violence occurred in past three years. Maoist activities noticed in 99 Police Station of 19 Districts. The Government has taken different steps to confront the Maoists activities.

CMAS of Narayanpatna in Koraput District sought dialogue with the State Government to resolve their long-standing demands and release of their ‘innocent members', who are in jail on charges of alleged Maoist links. CMAS leader Nachika Linga said he was ready to come out and hold direct talks with the Government to end the land-related exploitation of tribals in Narayanpatna area and release of arrested CMAS activists. He asked why the State Government never showed similar seriousness to resolve issues related to exploitation of tribals in remote areas which it showed for the release of the abducted Collector R. Vineel Krishna. "It again proves even in a democratic system all are not the same in the eyes of the ruling class," he alleged. He also alleged that around 40 cases had been slapped on him intentionally and over 150 of CMAS activists were arrested to suppress their voice against exploitation.

February 22

The abducted Collector R. Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi were released as soon as the Odisha Government agreed to the demands of the CPI-Maoist in the Chitrakonda area of Malkangiri District. "We agreed on all 14 issues," State Home Secretary U N Behera said. Among their 14 demands were calling for a halt to anti-Maoist operations by Security Forces, release of all political prisoners, scrapping of accords with MNCs for land transfer and projects, and compensation for the families of Maoist sympathisers killed in Police custody.

February 23

The CPI-Maoist backtracked and issued a fresh demand that they will hold onto Malkangiri Collector Vineel Krishna till they get custody of five of their leaders who are currently in jail.

Sources said that the Maoists have now also demanded the release of top Maoist Sriramalu Srinivasulu, who is currently awaiting trial in Andhra Pradesh, along with Ganti Prasad and Padma, wife of Ramakrishna alias RK. These demands come in addition to the other demands that had earlier been put before the Odisha Government. The Maoists say they need Prasad and four others to be escorted to Malkangiri in exchange for Collector Krishna. 

February 24

The nine-day hostage crisis ended with the State capitulating to the biggest-ever prisoner swap involving hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres to secure the release of Malkangiri District collector R Vineel Krishna. The Maoists released Krishna just 3 kilometres from where they had abducted him. This was when interlocutors were on their way to Chitrakonda for further negotiations after the Maoists raised additional demands calling for a public swap of the collector with nine of their imprisoned comrades. In the event, the Government agreed to release five, refusing to let go two key leaders of their group. Krishna was freed after a four-hour long public meeting called by the Maoists in Tentuliguda village with about 1,500 villagers. The Maoists made speeches and discussed issues like mining and under-development during the meeting. The meeting ended at 4.30pm [IST] after which the collector crossed the Balimela reservoir. The Maoists had called for the release of Srinivasulu, Ashutosh, and Shobha, after Odisha Government had already conceded 14 original demands. The Government agreed to release Ganti Prasad whose bail application was heard in a Koraput court on February 24, apart from Padma, Ishwari, Sarita and Gokul. The key Maoists whose release was sought but rejected by the Government are Srinivasulu and Ashutosh. Shobha, another key Maoist leader, is in a Jharkhand jail and the Odisha Government said it would take up her release with that State.

February 26

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ignored the advice of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that release of Naxals in exchange of Malkangiri collector will set a bad precedent. Sources said that after R Vineel Krishna's release, the Central Government had to send out fresh security precautions to States whose officials could be vulnerable to such abductions.

The Odisha Government registered a Police case against three top ranking cadres of AOB zonal committee of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Prasad, Bibhuti and Madhav under various sections of IPC and the Arms Act, in connection with the February 16 abduction of Malkangiri District collector R. V. Krishna and a junior engineer, Pavitra Majhi. The Officer-in-Charge of Pepermetla Police Station Premchand Bag had suo motu filed the case a day after the incident at Chitrakonda Police Station, Malkangiri Sub-Divisional Police Officer Umashanker Das said. The Collector and engineer were released later.

In a separate incident, Jayaram Pangi, Member of Parliament (Koraput District) and Ramamurty Mutika, Member of Legislative Assembly (Gunpur, Koraput), reportedly received threatening letters from one Azad of Bansadhara division of the Maoists, stating that they will receive death penalty if they continued with their anti-tribal activities. Both Pangi and Mutika are known tribal leaders from the tribal belt of southern Odisha.

February 28

The bail application of Sriramulu Srinivasulu, one of the CPI-Maoist cadres whose release had been demanded by abductors of Malkangiri District Collector R V Krishna, was rejected by a local court. Additional District Judge M S Dhal rejected the bail plea of Srinivasulu, who had a week ago been granted bail by a Fast Track Court in connection with another case, his lawyer R P Patnaik said.

March 1

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram refrained from confirming that he had opposed Odisha Government's decision to release five CPI-Maoist cadres to secure the release of District Collector R. Vineel Krishna and a junior engineer P. Majhi from the captivity of the Maoists. Asked about the "swap", Chidambaram limited himself to saying that he respected the "judgement" of the Odisha Government. "It's not important whether we agree or disagree. It was a sensitive matter and it was handled by the State Government. They have handled it to the best of their ability," Chidambaram said.

One Manas Kumar Parida of Jagatpur of Cuttack District filed a PIL urging the High Court to direct the CBI for a thorough inquiry into the alleged abduction of Malkangiri Collector and a junior engineer by the Maoists and their subsequent release after eight days of captivity.

March 2

In a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, it was decided that the State Government would not withdraw SFs from areas dominated by the CPI-Maoist, though it announced to halt combing operations since February 20, following abduction of Malkangiri District collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi, a senior Home Department official said. "According to commitments made to the mediators, the State Government will not take any coercive step till peace prevailed," Chief Secretary BK Patnaik said earlier. Besides 12 battalions of central para-military forces (seven battalions of CRPF and five battalions of BSF, adequate number of Odisha Police's elite anti-Naxalite force - SOG, IRB, DVF and SPOs were also deployed for anti-Maoist operations. Now with the State Government deciding not to execute Operation Green Hunt, these Forces would keep a watch on the movement of Maoists and their activities, the official said. "Presence of BSF and CRPF in Maoist-hit areas is itself an indication that the State Government will act if required," the official added.

March 4

Three CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the Police in Keonjhar District. The surrendered cadres are identified as Sadhu Mahakud (16), Mahendra (15) and Sangit (38) were wanted for several crimes, including blowing up a Police Station, setting ablaze and ransacking liquor shops, attacking the Police and villagers, and damaging private and Government vehicles. Sangit was involved in the Nayagarh attack in 2008, SP Ashish Kumar Singh said.

Justice C.R. Das, of the Odisha High Court has granted conditional bail to four Maoist cadres, identified as Roza Mandangi, Gokul Kuldipia, A. Iswari and Kendula Sirisha alias Padma, whose release had been demanded by the Maoists for the release of Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna from their captivity. The Judge has granted bail against deposit of INR 20,000. Roza and Gokul will report to the Investigating Officer (IO) in every 15 days. Further, with the condition that they cannot go outside of the District without the permission from the Police. The court also directed the Odisha Police to hand over Iswari and Padma to Andhra Pradesh Police within two days. The two were asked not to enter the State until summoned by the SDJM’s court in Jeypore, Koraput District. In addition, Maoist leader Ganti Prasadam, who is currently lodged in the Koraput District jail, is likely to be out on bail, with his lawyer trying to get people who would stand surety for him.

March 5

Satrughan Biswal alias Mangu alias Mohan, the second-in-command in CPI-Maoist of the Odisha State Committee, was arrested by the Police from near the railway station in Bargarh District. Biswal, a resident of Ersama area in Jagatsinghpur District, was operating in three Districts of Bargarh, Nuapada and Bolangir, SP Soorya Thankappan said. One country-made 9 mm pistol, six rounds of ammunition, a mobile phone, cash amounting to INR 54, 550, a letter to Maoist leaders and various Maoist-related documents were recovered from him, SP Thankappan said. Biswal, actively associated with Maoist activities since 2006, is considered as next to Sabyasachi Panda in the Maoist rank and file in the State.

March 7

The CPI-Maoist had called a State-wide bandh, to protest against the violation of the peace agreement arrived at during the Malkangiri hostage crisis by arresting a top Maoist leader in Bargarh District on March 5. The bandh was called by the outfit's Odisha State Organizing Committee.

About 20 Maoist posters were found near the proposed site of the POSCO Steel Plant in parts of Ersama of Jagatsinghpur District. The posters were written in Oriya, in which the Maoists warned the authority of "consequences" if the land acquisition work was not stopped immediately. In these posters the Maoists claimed that all political parties Congress, BJD, BJP among others were dancing to the tune of the private companies and allowing these companies to loot minerals of the State. Some of these posters were found on the walls of Ersama High School and store house of the supply department.

Five Maoists cadres identified as Ganti Prasadam, Padma, wife of Maoist leader Ramakrishna, Andaluri Iswari, Rosa Mandangi and Gokul Kuldipia booked at Koraput jail expressed their unwillingness to be released despite being granted bail by the Odisha High Court after the State Government decided to withdraw cases against them in the wake of Malkangiri District collector's abduction. The Maoist leaders demanded the release of 627 tribals lodged in different jails. "Unless the Government starts initiative to free the tribals from jail according to the agreement, we will not avail of the bail," Ganti Prasadam told his lawyer Nihar Patnaik.

According to SP, Nuapada, Rajesh Pandit, the Maoists have started consolidating in the Sunabeda tiger reserve in Nuapada District. SP Pandit said that around 175 Maoists are entrenched in the sanctuary. "The number of Maoists has increased in the past two weeks. It has almost trebled as earlier only 50 to 60 Maoists had been camping in the area," the SP said.

March 10

In a high-level meeting held in Bhubaneswar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the State Government has decided to construct 614.82 kilometres of road under State Road Project during the 2011-12 financial years in 15 CPI-Maoist-affected Districts of the State. As many 13 new road and one bridge project would be constructed in the tribal dominated areas, according to an official spokesperson. He said that for the development of road connectivity in the CPI-Maoist-affected Districts of the State, project proposals were submitted with Centre for Improvement of 490 kilometres of State roads and sanction of Government of India has been received for 205 kilometres of roads. He said that by 2011 January, 362 road projects have been approved under RIDF under NABARD assistance.

March 11

The CPI-Maoist cadres threatened the District authorities against carrying out any road construction activities and "prohibited" entry of Government officials into the "cut off" area of six Panchayats and a number of tribal hamlets on the AOBSZC, bringing all development activities to a grinding halt. "Three days ago, the CPI-Maoist communicated to staff posted in the mainland that they would not allow any construction activity, including building of roads in the area and also warned against Government officials visiting the "cut off" area," Official sources said in Kudumulu Gumma block.

In its bid to encourage youths to join mainstream, the State Government has planned a mega job fair in CPI-Maoist-affected Districts. "A Mega Job Fair has been planned in Left-Wing Extremism affected Districts like Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur on March 12 and 13," said Director of State Employment Mission A K Padhee in Bhubaneswar.

A Standing Committee of Odisha Legislative Assembly on Home Department recommended creation of a Security Battalion to guard 16 jails in CPI-Maoist-affected areas and eight other highly sensitive prisons. The committee said that the CPI-Maoist are trying to open up new fronts in Odisha-Chhattisgarh border by expanding its activities to Districts like Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir and Bargarh. "The outfit is also trying to consolidate in Mayurbhanj District bordering West Midnapore District of West Bengal," the committee cautioned the State Government in its report tabled in the Assembly. Stating that as many as 179 CPI-Maoist were arrested till November 2010, the committee suggested that adequate security needs to be placed around jails housing top Maoist cadres.

The Odisha High Court rejected the bail application of top CPI-Maoist leader Ashutosh Soren who was arrested for his alleged role in the Nayagarh armoury loot case of February 2008. Justice C R Dash refused to grant bail to Ashutosh stating that some arms looted from the armoury were traced in possession of the bail applicant who was arrested by Rourkela Police just about a year after the Nayagarh incident.

March 15

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist reportedly set ablaze an excavator being used for PMGSY work in Kalimela Police Station area of Malkangiri District. According to sources, Padia Dalam of Maoists was involved in the act. Inspector R.K. Pati from Malkangiri said, as per eye witnesses around a dozen Maoists, led by woman Maoist ‘commander’ Meena reached the spot to set ablaze the excavator. The excavator was parked near Sangel village of Undrukonda Panchayat of Kalimela Block.

March 16

A Malkangiri court acquitted Maoist leader Srinivas Sriramalu (41), former chief of Revolutionary Writers Association, in a dacoity case of 2007. Srinivas was asked to be released by the Maoists in exchange in the abduction case of Krishna and Majhi. According to his lawyer, Srinivas who was arrested in 2007 from Bariguda forest in Kalimela area of the District had been tried in six cases since then and he was acquitted in all six cases, including three murder charges. "First Srinivas was tried in four cases in which he was acquitted. But the Police again implicated him in two more cases in which he was acquitted," his counsel said. Prior to his arrest Srinivas was carrying a cash prize of INR 1.2 million in Andhra Pradesh.

March 17

Seven CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by the Police in a search operation started in the Saranda forest.

Two miscreants identified as Dambaru Dadhia and Dayanidhi Khila of Mantriput village were arrested for extorting money in the name of Maoists from Chitrakonda area in Malkangiri District.

A female Maoist leader Chanpa Madangi alias Aruna surrendered before the, SP Anup Krishna, in Rayagada District. She expressed that she has left the Maoist organization to be included in the mainstream. She is a resident of Laxmipur area in Koraput District. She was working in the Niyamgiri Dalam.

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist fired at two persons, seriously injuring both in Malkangiri District. Police said a group of four masked Maoists fired at Sukra Hantal (50), the village priest, as soon he opened the door of his house in Katapalli village, about 40 kilometres from Malkangiri, injuring the priest, while 25 other Maoists were waiting outside. The priest's wife Hiramani (35) was also hit by bullets and was seriously injured, the Police said.

March 19

Train services between Rourkela and Barsua in Sundargarh District were suspended, following threat given by the cadres of the CPI-Maoist in protest against ongoing 'Saranda Operation’ in Jharkhand area of Orissa-Jharkhand border. Several Maoists, according to the Police sources, pasted posters and placed red banner on the railway track at Topadihi station forcing the authorities to suspend the rail services, railway sources said. The train line is connected to the mining belt to transport iron ore to Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and only one passenger train operates on that route which has been suspended due to threat, they said.

March 21

In reply to a question in the State Assembly in Bhubaneswar, CM Naveen Patnaik said that an estimated 700 CPI-Maoist cadres were active in 19 Districts of the State and the Government has begun the process of identifying them. The identification of Maoists was a time consuming process as the members of the banned outfits often take fake names. The State Police along with Central Paramilitary Forces deployed in different parts of the State were engaged in raids, frisking and other activities to identify them, Patnaik added. He further rejected allegations of killings during encounters and arrest of innocent tribals. Replying to another question, CM said as many as 81 Maoists has surrendered before the Police during the last five years.

March 22

The white paper released by State Home Department stated that CPI-Maoist cadres killed 75 persons including 53 civilians while the SF personnel killed only 12 Maoists in Odisha during 2010. Though 61 persons were killed by the Maoists in 2009, the number of killing increased last year. While 28 civilians were killed by the Maoists in 2009, the number of civilian casualty increased to 53 in 2010, the paper said adding that 20 Maoists were shot dead by the SF personnel in 2009. Many innocent persons were being killed by the Maoists in the name of Police informers. "People opposing the Maoists activities were also victims," the paper added. In a bid to weaken the morale of SF personnel, the Maoists used to organise bandh, road blockade and blew up culverts and telephone towers, it said adding while ten Maoists had surrendered before the Police in 2009, the number rose to 44 in 2010. The white paper further said the number of Districts hit by the Maoists increased to 19 by 2010 even as Paramilitary Forces were deployed in the entire southern Odisha. As part of efforts to combat the Maoists, the State Government has taken several steps like banning the CPI-Maoists and its six frontal organisations, creation of a Unified Command to monitor anti-Maoist operation and setting up of new battalions among others.

March 23

The bail application of top CPI-Maoist leader Sriramulu Srinivasulu in Odisha High Court was adjourned to April 14 in Cuttack District. Adjourning the hearing, Justice C.R. Dash called for the case diaries. The Maoist leader, who was acquitted in a dacoity case earlier this month, has been lodged in Malkangiri jail for his alleged involvement in assaulting Policemen.

March 24

The Odisha Government announced that a Special Task Force (STF) in the Crime Branch would be created to effectively deal with organized crimes as well as for investigation of CPI-Maoist-related cases. Replying to the discussion on the demand for grants relating to Home and General Administration Department for the year 2011-12 fiscal, CM Naveen Patnaik announced that an Economic Offence Wing in Crime Branch would be created to deal with cases pertaining to investment related fraud, land related forgery and fraud and bank frauds. On the measures to tackle the Maoist menace, the CM said that to boost the morale of Forces engaged in anti-insurgency operations, it has been decided to waive the ceiling limit of income to extend the benefit of rehabilitation assistance to the next of kin of Police Officers killed in Maoist violence. He said that the State Government had decided to enhance the strength of elite anti-Maoist operation Force, the SOG by creating 1,609 new posts taking the sanctioned strength to 3,967.

April 1

Suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist attacked, looted and ransacked the house of a trader at Asurabandha village under Sorada block in Ganjam District. According to sources, a group of around 30 cadres of the Maoists had reached the Asurabandha village, targeted the house of Brajabandhu Choudhury and searched for his son Badri Choudhury, a cloth merchant and private money lender. Badri was not at home. The cadres dragged the whole family out of the house. Then they ransacked it and looted all the valuables. They also ransacked and looted a medicine shop and cloth shop near the house. Later, they also threatened a licensed liquor shop to close down its operations.

April 2

14 cadres of the CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS have been acquitted by the Additional District Judge Suresh Kumar Patnaik in Koraput District. After abduction of the Malkangiri Collector and Junior Engineer of Kudumulu Gumma Block, the mediators placed conditions to release 617 under trial prisoners of CMAS from different jails. It was alleged that about more than 200 CMAS cadres along with the Maoists attacked on a country liquor shop and set ablaze in the night of January 4, 2009. As per the FIR of the owner of the country liquor shop, Rajendra Kumar Jadab, the Police arrested 14 cadres of CMAS. The Additional District Judge Patnaik acquitted the 14 cadres due to want of evidence.

April 2

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed two persons, including a village ward member, finding them guilty at a praja court at Naglur village within Kalimela Police limits in Malkangiri District. The duos were identified as Tapel Gangeya, a villager and Sanyasi Barge, the village ward member. "The rebels had summoned five villagers to the praja court but zeroed in on the two and pumped bullets into them. Since the release of the collector, this is the first Maoist offensive in the district," Inspector-in-Charge of Kalimela Police Station Debasish Mishra said.

April 3

Chenda Bhushanam alias Katru alias Ghasi alias Nagraju (45), a top leader of the CPI-Maoist AOBSZC was arrested during a joint combing operation by the SOG troopers, Greyhounds and Odisha Police at near Pendajam village of Dudhari Panchayat under Semiliguda Police Station in Koraput District. Ghasi belonged to a village near Araku valley in Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh, joined the Maoist movement long ago and worked for the East Godavari Division. Ghasi carried a reward of INR One million on his head. He was reportedly involved in over 30 cases of Maoist-related violence, which he committed with complicity of another top Maoist leader Daya. He is said to be next only to top Maoist leader and ‘secretary’ of AOBSZC Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna alias RK.  Ghasi was described as the ‘military and action man’ of the outfit and was also the spokesperson for Koraput-Srikakulam Division. The Police have seized a 9mm pistol from him.

171 activists of CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS lodged in Koraput jail have started hunger strike from April 4 demanding their release. These imprisoned CMAS activists have taken up this agitation under leadership of spokesperson of the outfit Tapan Mishra.

April 6

The Odisha Government claimed that at least 20 cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed and 38 others arrested during first three months of 2011 in the face of opposition claim that the morale of State Police was at its lowest after five Maoists were set free to secure release of abducted Malkangiri District Collector.

In a reply to an adjournment motion in the House of State Assembly on April 6, CM Naveen Patnaik said, "Security Forces during the first three months of 2011 have arrested 38 ultras while 20 others died in operation. Fifteen Maoists have surrendered before the police during the period." Rejecting the opposition allegation that there was total anarchy in the State, Patnaik said the State Government was taking all possible steps to contain Naxal (LWE) violence. "There had been regular joint operation against the LWE in the State's border," he added. Besides, Patnaik said, a large number of arms and ammunition was seized by SFs personnel during raids on Maoist hideouts. "The Police were keeping a close watch on the movement and activities of Maoists," the CM added.

April 8

Two CPI-Maoist cadres including a minor surrendered in Jajpur District. The duo, Anil and Baya, surrendered before the SP Dhirendra S. Kuttey. "Since five years Baya is working with the Maoists and Anil has been working for the last one and half years with the Maoists and they were involved in various violent Maoist activities", the SP said. Police said that under central Government's rehabilitation policy, the surrendered Maoists would be provided with occupational assistance to make them professionally active and earn their daily bread.

April 9

Following a tip-off regarding the presence of about 10 cadres of the CPI-Maoist, the CRPF troopers, local Police and DVF raided a Maoists camp at Bali Hills in Keonjhar District. The Maoist camp was neutralised and the Police recovered a huge cache of explosives. "This is the biggest haul from any Maoist camp in the District," Keonjhar SP Ashish Singh told reporters adding that the Security Force Personnel had to defuse some land mines in order to reach the Maoist camp. The recovered materials included one GPS set, 72 detonators, battery, country made guns, gelatin sticks, electric fuse wire, country made bomb, landmines, CD, radio, medicines, thermometers, Maoist literature, books, letters, posters, leaflets and other items, the SP said. The Maoists having links with Maoist leader Sushil had put up the camp to train their cadre inside the forests of the District, the SP added.

The Maoists have threatened to kill Sikhya Sahayaks (teaching assistants) in Koraput District if they are recruited from outside the District. The warning was inscribed on a banner found on the collectorate premises. The banner was spotted a day after the Maoists blocked the Sunki-Ampabali road within Pottangi Police limits in protest against the arrest of their Maoist leader Chenda Bhushanam alias Ghasi on April 3.

April 11

A CPI-Maoist top cadre was arrested by the Police and SOG troopers at Temurpally under Mathili Police Station in Malkangiri District. The Maoist cadre, identified as Pitabas Singh Thakur (32), belongs to Komakolen village in Dantewada District in Chhattisgarh, was involved in extorting money from traders of the weekly local market, Mathili Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Ramakrushna Pati said. Thakur was working under Daraba Dalam of Chhattisgarh and is a close associate of Surendra, the commandant of Daraba Dalam, who had allegedly masterminded the killing of 76th CRPF personnel in Dantewada District on April 6, 2010, Pati said. Thakur was also involved in blasting of Police outposts at Mundaguda and Salimi under Mathili Police Station limits in 2009.

April 13

>The fast-unto-death hunger strike launched by top Maoist leader Srinivas Sriramalu along with other 220 tribal prisoners in Malkangiri Jail enters the second day, protesting the failure of the State Government to fulfill all the 14-conditions as agreed between the Government and Maoist interlocutors in the release of District Collector R. Vineel Krishna on February 24. "The inmates refused to call off their strike, but after much persuasion they took flattened rice. We are trying to pacify them and hopeful of a solution at the earliest," a jail official said.

The CPI-Maoist leader Srinivas Sriramalu called off the hunger strike on the third day, along with 272 other inmates of Malkangiri sub-jail in the District. All the 272 inmates, including 31 Maoists, launched the fast on April 11, in protest against the State Government's alleged failure in fulfilling the 14 demands laid by the Maoists for the release of abducted Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi. Srinivas and all other inmates called off their agitation after getting assurance from the administration that their demand will be intimated to the Government for its fulfillment at the earliest, jail Superintendent Gopinath Chowdhury said.

April 16

One of the Mediator Dandapani Mohanty during abduction crisis of Malkangiri collector urges Odisha Government to implement the agreement between the Mediators and the Government of Odisha in a press conference in Bhubaneswar.

April 19

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a forest guard, identified as Sisir Khosla (46), at Sunanagar Ghati under Orkel Police Station area in Malkangiri District. Khosla was working in Balimela forest range.

The Police arrested three Maoists, including a top Maoist, near Budhakhamari village under Bangriposhi Police Station in Mayurbhanj District. SP Dayal Gangwar said that the top Maoist has been identified as Khokan Mahato alias Khagen (35), a resident of Simili area under Jhargram Police Station in West Midnapore District in West Bengal. Khagen was an 'area commander' and more than 30 cases, including murder, abduction and treason are pending against him in Odisha and West Bengal. Khagen was also involved in the abducting and killing of a Police Constable, Sarkar Hembram, at Beliabeda on March 6, the SP said. The other two arrestees were identified as Naba Mahanta and Jitendra Mahanta, his accomplices. The Police recovered land mines and some Maoist literature, Maoist posters from their homes.

April 20

Sariami Dara alias Santosh (35), a self-styled 'deputy commandant' of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered before DIG, south-west range, Soumendra Priyadarshi in Malkangiri District. According to Malkangiri Police, Santosh was a part of the AOBSZC of the Maoists. Santosh, hailed from Jileliguda village under MV-79 Police Station area, and was active in Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada Districts, SP Anirudha Singh said. He had joined the Maoists around ten years ago and was involved in several major cases of violence and killings in Odisha and adjoining States. Santosh was involved in the killing of 38 greyhound troopers of Andhra Pradesh while they were crossing Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri District after a combing operation in June 2008. He was also part of the team of Maoists that triggered the powerful landmine blast to kill seventeen SOG troopers in an anti-landmine vehicle near MV126 village in the District in July 2008. He was also part of Maoist attacks on Koraput town and its District armory in 2004, attack on Nayagarh town and its armory in 2008, Maoist attack on Panchpatmali hilltop mines of NALCO at Damanjodi of Koraput District in 2009.

A meeting was held in the Odisha Secretariat under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Bijaya Kumar Patnaik to review on the progress of the Integrated Action Plan in 15 Maoist prone Districts. As per the information in the meeting, out of INR 3.75 billion financial assistance, INR 3.41 billion has already been utilized and the works of 7,587 projects are in progress. It is expected to take up projects of INR 4.50 billion in the next year. Including Development Commissioner Rabinarayan Senapati, Secretaries of Water Resources, Rural Development, Special Secretary of Planning and Coordination Department were present. It was emphasized to prepare the guide line as per requirement of the people, and to alternate arrangement if any project not applicable. After the meeting the Chief Secretary said, the first phase of INR 4.77 billion will be completed by the month of June. It is to be mentioned here that the Government has sanctioned INR 250 million each to 15 District Collectors in the year 2010-11 and has been instructed to utilize by June.

April 21

The District Police recovered two landmines with about 50 kilograms of explosive materials planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres at two different places on the road connecting Kunduli and Deomali hills in Koraput District. According to DIG Soumendra Priyadarshi, South West range, these landmines were planted by the Maoists to block the Police Forces reaching the mountains last month when they had organised a meeting along with the CMAS of Narayanpatna. The recovery included 180 gelatine sticks, four detonators and about 30 metres of wire. Looking at the amount of explosives recovered, Priyadarshi said that the landmine could have blown off a heavy vehicle with ease.

The HC in Cuttack District granted bail to top Maoist leader of Andhra Pradesh Sriramulu Srinivasulu, who is now lodged in Malkangiri jail for his alleged involvement in assaulting the State Police. The single judge Bench of Justice C. R. Dash granted bail to Sriramulu for a bail bond of INR 30,000 and two sureties of like amount. The HC however, has imposed some strict conditions on the release of the Maoist leader who was arrested in July 2007 from Bariguda forest in Kalimela area of Malkangiri District. The HC has asked Sriramulu to leave the State within 24 hours of his release and shall not enter into the State unless and until he is summoned by any court.

April 23

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a 15-year-old boy, involved in offences like attack on SFs and abduction surrendered before the Police in Jajpur District. The Maoists were identified as Harish Badra (15), Laba Badra (23) of Baligotha village in Jajpur and Banamali Jerai (48) of Jamabahali village in Keonjhar District, Jajpur SP D S Kuttey said.

April 24

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Gajla (20) was killed in an encounter with the SFs in Malkangiri District. Acting on a tip-off, troopers of the elite anti-Naxal (LWE) SOG and the DVF arrived at the Tentulipadar village and raided Nakamamudi forest under Chitrakonda Police limits and were challenged by the Maoists camped there.

April 27

The Odisha Government has apparently taken the decision to resume the operation against the CPI-Maoist after intelligence inputs revealed that the Maoists were regrouping and planning for major operations in the State.

A woman commander of the CPI-Maoist, Koraput division militia group, identified as J .Susheela alias Pushpa (23), surrendered before DIG southern range, Soumendra Priyadarshi and in the presence of SP Anup Sahu in Koraput District.

Pushpa hails from a family of menial labourers at Vanakawadi village under Elvinpeta Police Station in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh. Pushpa joined the Maoists in 2005 and had married Ghasi in 2010.

April 28

The CPI-Maoist gave a bandh call in Malkangiri District alleging non-fulfillment of promises made by the State Government for the release of Malkangiri Collector R. Vineel Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi.

April 30

The CPI-Maoist cadres are holding recruitment drive and training camps at Saranda forest situated along the Jharkhand-Odisha interstate border, the Police said.

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a contractor identified as Ganesh Khosla, in Bandhugaon block of Koraput District.

May 1

A group of the CPI-Maoist cadres assaulted Penta Majhi (24), son of Ganga Majhi, a village sarpanch and set him ablaze to death in Kurab village under Kalimela Police Station area in Malkangiri District. According to the Malkangiri District Police, the family members of Penta did not initially lodge the complaint and hence official information about the incident came out three days later. Investigation revealed, Maoists were believed to have asked Penta to join their outfit but as he refused, they set him ablaze.

May 2

An encounter with the cadres of the CPI-Maoist took place when a team of about 15 troopers of IRB was undertaking combing operation at Kalingbadi forest under Daringbadi Police Station area in Kandhamal District. Two troopers were killed in the firing of the Maoists, the Police said. As per the report one dead body was recovered while the other one is yet to be recovered, the Police added. The personal security officer of SP Sujit Ray and the body guard of ASP Brijesh Kumar were injured in the firing of the Maoists.

May 3

Two persons were arrested and around 100 packets of detonators recovered from them near the Odisha Sands Complex (OSCOM) at Matikhala in Chamakhandi Police Station area in Ganjam District.

The Police also arrested one person identified as Ranjan alias Kalia Parida for reportedly stocking illegal explosives in his house at Rampai village in Jajpur District.

May 5

The Odisha Government has decided to raise another 50 SOG to combat the CPI-Maoist menace in the State. State Home Secretary U. N. Behera said, "The State has already formed 50 SOG units comprising 1,800 jawans. Another 1,800 jawans will be recruited under the SOG units." "We have plans to recruit another 5,000 constables to fill up the vacancies. The Government has already given the financial approval," Behera added.

Apart from raising the SOG units, the Government is also planning to set up four counter-insurgency anti-terrorists (CIT) schools in the State. Behera said the proposed CIT schools would impart training to the troopers of Odisha Police. The schools would come up at Chandaka, Rourkela and Koraput. Similarly, Police training schools would also come up at Bairi and Sambalpur. The Odisha Government has also decided to urge the Centre to initiate steps in providing an 18-seater chopper to the State. "We have started negotiating with the Pawan Hansh. During our proposed meeting with the cabinet secretary, we have decided to raise this issue," said a senior officer.

Five battalions of the BSF, seven battalions of the CRPF, 50 units of the SOG, four battalions of the IRB and personnel of one CoBRA battalion have been put into service across the Maoists-infested Districts in the State. While the BSF has been deployed in Malkangiri and Koraput, CRPF troopers have been posted in Rayagada, Gajapati, Sundergarh, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh and Keonjhar.

The Maoists blew up a panchayat office with landmines in the District. A group of 50 Maoist cadres stormed into Niliguda under Padia block, about 35 kilometres from the District, and triggered IED explosions to blow up the gram panchayat building, Padia BDO Subhash Singh said. The ceiling of the two-storied building caved in and the structure suffered extensive damage in the blast, he said, adding that the same building had come under attack by Maoists during construction last year.

Five platoons of Armed Forces were deployed following a dawn to dusk bandh at Daringbadi and its adjoining areas in Kandhamal District.

May 6

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist ransacked and looted a SPO house and a liquor shop in Malkangiri District.

A large number of Maoists ransacked the Government liquor shop at Padia, about 65 kilometres from the District and destroyed the stock at the licensed outlet, Excise Superintendent Loknath Mandia said.

May 8

The Odisha Government has drawn up plans to develop roads with an investment of INR 21 billion during the fiscal 2011-12.

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist ransacked and looted the house of a Police Constable Sukra Madhi at Gagrimetla village in Malkangiri District. According to Malkangiri SP Aniruddha Singh, Madhi was not posted in the District.

May 13

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Basanti Badra (19), of village Baligotha under Kalinga Nagar Police Station surrendered in front of District SP in Jajpur District.

May 14

SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres engaged in an encounter in Kalimela area of Malkangiri District.

May 16

Eleven persons, including a CPI-ML's Odisha unit secretary Tapan Mishra, arrested in 2009 on the charge of being CPI-Maoist cadres, were acquitted, by Additional district and sessions judge Suresh Kumar Patnaik in a local court in Koraput District. The arrestees were acquitted, for lack of evidence against them, said advocate Nihar Patnaik. SF personnel of Odisha's elite SOG, Greyhound of Andhra Pradesh, CRPF and CoBRA personnel had arrested at least 15 people, including four minors, following a raid at Jangudibalsa village within Bandhugaon Police Station limits on November 28, 2009.

May 18

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, a father-son duo, reportedly involved in several activities, were arrested along with huge quantity of Maoist literature from Kandhamal District. Acting on a tip-off, the Police raided the house of the accused at Ranabakarada and arrested the duo, identified as Ramesh Nayak (42) and his son Jitendra, IIC of Raikia Police Station R N Barik said. Several Maoist literature including posters, leaflets and pamphlets were recovered from the house during the raid. During interrogation, both admitted their involvement in an attack on a forest range office at Barba in Raikia area in February, 2009, Barik said adding they were also involved in critically injuring a chowkidar in the area in 2010.

IG of Prisons, Pranabindu Acharya, said that security of jails in Maoist-prone areas and jails that house Maoist prisoners would be enhanced. He said 24 jails in the State had prisoners with Maoist links in them. It had been planned to enhance their security through deployment of armed personnel of OSAP and use of closed circuit TV cameras.

May 21

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist triggered a landmine blast damaging a stretch of railway track at a place between Renjeda and Roxy in Sundargarh District, the first day of a two-day bandh called by the Maoists, reports DNA.

The Maoists set afire at least 12 dumpers at Chunaghati on National Highway No. 215 under Koida Police Station in the District.

Normal life was also affected in other Districts including Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Kandhamal during the bandh as buses stopped plying and most private vehicles went off the roads in these regions.

May 22

Suspected CPI-Maoist leaflets were recovered from Bentkar village under in Bayalish mouza area in Cuttack District.

May 23

Nine Policemen, including the ASP of Gariabandh block in Raipur District, were killed in a landmine blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist in Sunabeda forest in Nuapada District. A hunt is on for a missing policeman. Senior Police officials on May 24 said that a 10-member Police team led by ASP Rajesh Pawar was sent to Amamora and Sonabed forest following reports of Maoist movement in the area. When the Police team was returning in the evening, their vehicle broke down following which they boarded a tractor. The Maoists then triggered a landmine blast in which the tractor was blown up. Nine policemen were killed in the attack, the officials said.

Vehicular traffic grinded to a halt in several parts of Kandhamal and Gajapati Districts during the second day of the Maoist-called bandh on May 22.

May 24

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said cases against tribals and some others, who had been lodged in jails on charges of CPI-Maoist activities, would be withdrawn soon. "Process is on to withdraw cases against the tribals by June 30," Patnaik said these after a two-hour meeting in the evening with the mediators R Hargopal and Dandapani Mohantry, who played a key role in the release of former Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna from Maoist captivity. Revolutionary poet Vara Vara Rao of Andhra Pradesh was also present in the meeting. Patnaik, however, said that the Maoists also must stop violence.

May 25

SF personnel engaged in anti-CPI-Maoist operation recovered 40 packets of liquid explosives, weighing 240 kilograms from a pit near Pachingi forests in Koraput District. The explosive were stored there by the Maoists.

May 26

A woman Maoist identified as Sushama Majhi alias Shanti (20) was arrested from Dengama forest near Paniganda in Gajapati District during a combing operation. Shanti is reportedly close to Maoist leaders Azad and Sabyasachi Panda. She was involved in six incidents of Maoist violence in Gajapati and Kandhamal Districts.

May 27

Admitting his involvement in the killing of VHP leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, surrendered CPI-Maoist leader, Dunna Keshav Rao alias Azad said that the decision to eliminate him was taken by the top leadership of the CPI-Maoist. "The decision to kill Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was taken at a higher level. We only executed it," revealed Azad.

The Maoists killed two persons, branding them to be Police informers in two separate incidents in Nuapada District bordering Chhattisgarh. The victims were identified as Nageswar Majhi (28) of Koten village and Parsuram Majhi (30) of Jalamibadar village. According to the Police a group of Maoists reached their village and the victims were dragged out of their homes. They were assaulted to death in front of villagers who were forced to gather up and witness the gruesome act. Maoists also left posters at the spot of killing, in which they have warned that such killings will continue if SFs did not stop anti-naxal operations and combing in Maoist-affected areas.

A Maoist cadre, identified as Lalit Biusika, was arrested by SFs during combing operation in Chandrapur block of Rayagada District. A country-made gun, Maoist posters and banners were recovered from him. According to the Police he was involved in the murder of a head constable of the CRPF Tek Chand at Hanumanthpur of Chandrapur block on December 30, 2010. A trooper of the OSAP was also injured in the attack. Lalit was also involved in the attack on the Chandrapur Police Station.

May 29

A CPI-Maoist couple who were reportedly involved the 2008 attack on the Police armoury in Nayagarh, surrendered before the Police in Puri District. The Maoists, identified as Anirudh Behera and his wife Rajalaxmi Biswal, surrendered before Puri SP Sanjay Kumar, saying they decided to leave the outfit because of harassment by higher-ups in the Maoist hierarchy. Both admitted that they were involved in several offences, including the attack on Police establishments and the looting of the armoury in Nayagarh in 2008, and worked in close association with top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, Police sources said.

The State Government claimed that there has been an immense setback to Maoists in the State. A team of Maoist sympathizers and interlocutors met with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on May 24 to remind the Odisha Government of the 14 promises they made but did not fulfill, to secure the release of then kidnapped Malkangiri collector R V Krishna. The mediators have now set June-end as the new deadline for the demands to be met. The Chief Minister, for his part, gave assurances that he will release 168 tribals involved in minor cases. "It has been a policy in our Government to withdraw minor cases against the tribals and we will do that again. But I have made it very clear that there have been several violent incidents in past three months and the Maoists should stop that immediately," said Naveen Patnaik.

May 31

About 25 to 30 CPI-Maoist cadres stormed the house of a prospective recruit in Buruda village in Bhanja Nagar area of Ganjam District and hacked one of his hands when he had refused to join their ranks.

Five persons, stated to be Maoists, who had been arrested in connection with the attack of an under construction power house in Gobindpalli area on February 22, 2009, were acquitted by a Fast Track court in Malkangiri for lack of adequate evidence.

June 2

A court in Odisha handed over the custody of top CPI-Maoist leader Duna Kesab Rao alias Azad to the State Police for questioning. Azad, who carried a reward of INR one million on his head in Andhra Pradesh, had surrendered before the Police in Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh Police had handed over Azad to their Odisha counterparts in the night of June 1.

A three page letter written in Telgu language signed by the CPI-Maoist Malkangiri Division 'Secretary' Poonam Chand stating "We the Maoists are working for the people, but you are preventing us to reach the people by utilizing the Police there by foiling our mission," was handed over to Balwant Singh, District Collector of Malkangiri District by one Village Level Worker (VLW). The letter addressed to the Collector Balwant Singh further reads that "we released the then Collector R. Vineel Krishna in the 'Praja Court' after the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's assurance to abide by all the demands within 15 days", however instead of acting on the demands, the State Government is unnecessarily wasting times. The letter has asked the Collector "Are you mot aware about the killing of Comrade Gajla alias Ratnalu in Police encounter on April 24, 2011 at Tentulipadar village despite the State Governments claims that combing operation has been stopped". The Maoist letter has also demanded the release of all the tribals who have been languished in Malkangiri and Koraput jails on the false cases. The Maoist leader has also said no to operation green hunt. The Maoist leader has further urged to fulfill all the demands of the common men and to supply rice to the cut-off region soon. Any deviation of the warning would have dangerous consequence, the letter said.

June 4

The MHA has advised the Sates affected by the CPI-Maoist including Odisha to refrain from posting SPO as it is telling upon the efficiency and morale of the regular Police personnel. The Bureau of Police Research and Development working under the MHA, after meticulous survey in the Maoist-hit areas, has recommended to the ministry that the SPO not being trained are not aware of their legal limits and they often indulge in acts that tar the reputation of regular Policemen, demoralising them. It also creates negative impression on the police administration. The Police also become dependent on them leading to slow-down in their efficiency. Disapproving the way some states are bent upon posting increased numbers of SPOs, the Bureau has also recommended that they immediately refrain from such indiscriminate measures.

June 8

Odisha and Chhattisgarh Police have chalked out a strategy to launch a joint operation against the CPI-Maoist in the interstate border areas. ADG anti-Maoist operation and IG, Durg range, of Chhattisgarh held wide-ranging discussions for two days with their Odisha counterparts and other key officials on the matter in Bhubaneswar a few days ago, said sources. Both sides agreed on the need for undertaking joint operations in view of the extremists having opened a new front to cause violence in areas adjoining both states. "We did not feel this need earlier as Odisha's border with Chhattisgarh did not witness much Maoist activities," said a senior Odisha Police official. "So far we had engaged all our resources in other areas, including Malkangiri and Rayagada Districts bordering Andhra Pradesh, where the rebels had been wreaking havoc for years. But now that the Maoists have started creating trouble on the state's western side, we have started deploying Central and state forces to contain them. We have already deployed forces in strategic areas. More deployment is on the cards," the official said.

The State Government appealed for the withdrawal of cases against CPI-Maoist leader Ganti Prasad Rao and four other Maoists by filing two petitions in the SDJM courts in Koraput and Jeypore.

June 9

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed one person, identified as Hrushikesh Pradhan of Sonepur District, in Redhamal village in Nuapada District suspecting him to be a Police informer. However, Nuapada SP Rajesh Pandit claimed that Hrusikesh was with the Maoists for sometime and had left them. "Hrusikesh went missing on June 6. There is missing report lodged with Ulunda Police Station. Maoists picked him from his village on some pretext, brought him to Nuapada and killed him", said the SP.

Three landmines were recovered during a combing operation conducted by the Police and the CRPF in the Saranda forest in Sundargarh District. The landmines, weighing five kilogram to 10 kilogram, were seized near Raidihi and Nuagaon in the forest, the Police said.

June 13

CPI-Maoist cadres killed one person, identified as Bhima Kabasi (24), in Malkangiri District, suspecting him to be a Police informer. The bullet-riddled body of Kabasi was found in a forest near Chintalwada village in the Kalimela area, ASP U. S. Das said. Kabasi and three others had been abducted from nearby Pitakonda village to an unknown place by armed Maoists in the night of June 11, he said. Three of them were set free on June 12, while Kabasi's body was found this morning (June 13). "The district is such that the police and the BSF, camping there for the anti-Maoist operation, cannot move without help of the informers. The policemen have been trying their best to protect the informers but the Maoists appear to be outsmarting them," said an officer.

A 16-year-old Maoist cadre, identified as Laxman Hansa, surrendered before the Police in Jajpur District. "Laxman Hansa of Baligotha village near Kalinga Nagar was active in Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and other areas since 2009. We suspect their involvement in a number of violent incidents," SP, Jajpur Deepak Kumar, said. Hansa along with other Maoists were Involved in planting of IED at Raighati in the Tomka Police Station area in the District in 2010. He along with other Maoists had also killed Tuna Behera and Kailas Mahanta at Palaspalli under Daitari Police Station in June 2010. Last year (2010), they also attacked Daitari Police Station and looted explosives from Talangi mines in December, 2010, said the Police Officer.

June 21

A woman cadre of the CPI-Maoist was killed during a gunbattle between the Police and the Maoists in Banjipali area on the foothills of Gandhamardan forests in Bolangir District, Police said. Personnel of elite anti-Maoist SOG were conducting combing operation in Bajipali forests under Khaparakhol police station when they were fired upon by the Maoists which led to the gun battle.

At least seven under trials escaped from a juvenile home at the Panposh area in Rourkela in Sundargarh District, police said. The inmates broke open the window and jumped out of the boundary wall of the home. All seven prisoners had been booked in Maoist related and armed act cases.

The district court of Koraput allowed the State Government to withdraw the cases against four Maoists, including top Maoist Ramakrishna's wife Kandula Sirisa alias Padma. The other three persons are Rosa Mandangi, Iswari and Gukul Kuldipia. "On direction of the state's Home department we had filed applications for withdrawal of cases against the Maoist quartet and the court has approved it," said public prosecutor Arun Kumar Padhi.

June 22

A cache of grenades and ammunition, pipes and wires have been recovered from a dense forest in Rayagada District. Altogether 64 rounds of 8 mm pistols, 56 grenades, 119 pipes and 5 metres of fuse wire, were recovered buried under the earth, at Raibiji forest in the Chandrapur Police Station limits, DIG, South-West Range, Soumendra Priyadarshi said. The arms were hidden by the CPI-Maoist cadres for future use, the DIG said.

A Maoist 'area commander' was arrested from near Saranda forest in Sundargarh District. The Police recovered an automatic 9 mm pistol, five live cartridges, posters, Maoist literatures and leaflets from Kunduru Luhar alias Golapa (25) of Bisra area, Rourkela SP Himanshu Lal said. Kunduru was the 'area commander' of the outfit at Digha area after death of Maoist commander Md Muslim, the SP said.

June 23

In a bid to respect the agreement between the interlocutor's from the CPI-Maoist side and State Government, Odisha Government decided to release another 153 persons languishing in various jails across the State. "We have taken a decision to withdraw cases against 153 tribals. Necessary instructions have already been issued to concerned government advocates. The process will be complete by the end of June", said Odisha Chief Secretary B.K Patnaik at Bhubaneswar.

June 25

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a person by slitting his throat at a 'kangaroo court' in Koraput District, holding him guilty of passing on information to the Police. The body of the victim named Sapaura Sirika, who had been missing from his village since June 24, was found in a pool of blood at Kalam-Jhadipada chowk, about 90 kilometres from the District. Quoting a letter purportedly written by Maoists and found from the spot by villagers, Police said the Maoists claimed to have punished him at a 'Kangaroo court' as he was a Police informer. Sirika was also held responsible for a Police-Maoist encounter that took place in a dense forest in Narayanpatna area last year [2010].

Four CPI-Maoist cadres including two women cadres surrendered in front of SP Deepak Kumar in Jajpur District. All the surrendered Maoists have been identified as Suru alias Usha Palea (20), Laxmi alias Sambari Hessa (20) Bikram alias Jaysingh Gagarai (20) and Ramesh Gagarai (18) of Baligotha village under Kalinga Nagar Police Station of Jajpur District, the SP said.

June 28

The CPI-Maoist alleged that the Odisha Government and the Centre had violated norms of the Union Environment ministry for the Posco project and expressed solidarity with those agitating against it. "Fact finding by the Saxena committee and the Meena Gupta committee has proved the existence of forest rights. But the FRA (Forest Rights Act) is not implemented by the state government in the area," a press release by Maoists national spokesperson Abhay, on behalf of its Central Committee said. "CPI (Maoist) hails the people of Orissa who are determined to stop the much-touted 52,000 crore 'biggest foreign direct investment' in India and declares its full support and solidarity for them," it said.

The Maoists gave a call for Odisha bandh on June 30 over what it calls the forcible land acquisition and a host of other issues.

June 30

Intelligence reports speak of a possibility of CPI-Maoist cadres establishing Orissa-Chhattisgarh corridor. Raigarh SP, Rahul Sharma, said, "The Maoists are trying to set up a corridor to move freely between Bastar [South Chhattisgarh] and the Districts of Raigarh and Mahasamund via Bargarh in Orissa. However, better connectivity, roads and infrastructure in Raigarh [compared to Bastar] will make it difficult to expand [Maoist] operations here." He said the Maoists had been working on the "corridor" for some time now.

Sources said the Maoists had recently formed a Bargarh-Mahasamund Divisional Committee that reports to the larger DKSZC. With operations in Chhattisgarh's five Southern Districts and parts of the Gadchiroli District in Maharashtra, the DKSZC is one of the most active Maoist divisions.

State Police interrogated top CPI-Maoist leader Bhagat, who surrendered before Andhra Pradesh Police on February 16.

A bandh called by Maoists in the State against land acquisition for Posco steel project evoked lukewarm response as normal life was affected to some extent only in southern region.

July 1

A 'deputy commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Sunil, was killed in a gunfight with Security Forces near Pandapada village in Keonjhar District. Sunil was the second in command of the Kalinga Nagar division of the CPI-Maoist. A revolver, a locally made gun, some detonators and other camp articles were seized from the site. No causality or injury has been reported from the Police side.

Koraput District judge Ajit Kumar Patnaik freed Maoist leader Ganti Prasad Rao alias Prasadam accepting State Government's plea for withdrawal of case against him as promised for securing the release of former Malkangiri District Collector who was abducted in February 2011.

Several leaders of the AOBSZC of CPI-Maoist are planning to surrender, according to former Maoist leader K. Balaraju alias Bhagat in Malkangiri.

July 4

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist trigged two IEDs blowing up railway tracks between Rengada and Roxy stations of Sundargarh District during a 24-hour bandh observed by them.

Two Maoists were arrested and a huge quantity of explosives and weapons seized from them from a forest in Keonjhar District.

A woman 'deputy commander', Arati Patra alias Rita (20), of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before the Police in Gajapati District.

Maoists set ablaze a porcelain machine used in canal construction work in Malkangiri District.

Three Maoists reportedly involved in the killing of SF personnel and many crimes were arrested from Jajpur and Keonjhar District.

A local court allowed Odisha Government to withdraw at least three cases against 42 activists of Maoist-backed CMAS, including its president Nachika Linga.

July 5

Two SF Personnel were injured when three landmines planted by CPI-Maoist cadres exploded during a combing operation in Sonepur Ghati forest of Daringbadi area in Kandhamal District. Two claymore mines were also recovered from the site.

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted five villagers, including one former Maoist, who was about to surrender before the Police from Potteru village under Kalimela block of Motu Police limits in Malkangiri District.

Another group of armed Maoist cadres assembled in the village, simultaneously carried out an hour long operation by looting the houses and decamped with valuables and household items, of SPO Rama Chandra Madkami, who is now undergoing training in Angul, and two other village headmen, Madkami Masa and Madkami Rama of the village in the District.

July 7

Four persons were killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in two separate incidents in Rayagada and Koraput Districts. Kailash Majhi, of Godibali village, and Shashi Majhi, of Dhobasil village, of Godibali Panchayat of Kashipur Block in Rayagada District were shot dead by around 50 armed Maoists of the Kashipur-Niyamgiri Area Committee, reportedly for being Police informers.

The Maoists killed Balaji Takri, a constable of Machkund Police Station and Binod Khemundu, a Home Guard, both residents of Koraput Town, while they were on their way back from Anakadeli weekly market to Machkund.

July 8

CPI-Maoist cadres killed one person, identified as Bandami Suba, a former Maoist cadre planning to surrender before the Police in Malkangiri District.

Suba was among five persons abducted at gun point by the Maoists from Potteru village in the MV-79 Police Station limits in the night of July 5. Maoists released three of the abducted persons on July 7. However, the Police are yet to ascertain about the fate of Suresh Bandami, a contractor, who was also abducted by the Maoists.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the incident in Bhubaneswar and said that stringent action would be taken against the culprits involved in the "terrible" crimes.

The Komna Police arrested a teacher, identified as Kaliram Suar (22), of Sunabeda village under Sunabeda panchayat for suspected link with the CPI-Maoist cadres in Nuapada District. Suar was working as a contractual teacher engaged by Chakutia Bhunjia Development Agency (CBDA) since 2008 in Salepada TRW Girl's Middle English School in Sunabeda panchayat.

July 9

Traffic was hit between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for a road blockade put up by CPI-Maoist at Almonda within Bandhugaon Police limits in Koraput District.

Five Police Home Guards submitted their resignations fearing attack by CPI-Maoist in the District.

State Chief Secretary, Bijay Patnaik said the SPO issue would be examined in the backdrop of the judgment.

A State Government official pointed out the Government not only issued advertisements for the recruitment of SPOs, but in order to give a chance to local tribals to get jobs in their own areas, changed the guidelines for recruitment of Security Forces, reducing the minimum qualification to 8th standard and the standard height from 163 cm to 160 cm.

July 10

Separately, the State Government has decided to include all the blocks in the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by the end of the Twelfth Five Year Plan. The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by CM Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on July 8.

The CM also reviewed the implementation of the Targeted Rural Initiatives for Poverty Termination (TRIPTI) scheme.

The Berhampur Police recovered a 9 mm pistol from one Sunil Pradhan (32) of Kumbharbadi in Daringibadi Police Station in Kandhamal District, reported to be earlier looted by Maoists from Ranjan Mallick, the then inspector in-charge of R Udayagiri Police Station in Gajapati District in 2006.

The Police arrested two persons, identified as Udhab Mallick and Kandura Pradhan, for having links with the Maoists in Kandhamal District.

Odisha Government said new strategy will be chalked out soon to counter the Maoists.

July 11

Dhirendra Pallai, acting president of UAC, a pro-Posco organization, lodged a FIR with Kujang Police Station in Jagatsinghpur District on receiving threat letters from the CPI-Maoist.

Traffic between Odisha and the border town of Parvathipuram in Andhra Pradesh remained stalled for the third day due to a Maoist road blockade near Almonda in Bandhugaon block.

CPI-Maoist cadres issued threat letters and threats over telephone to two businessmen of Lahunipada and Koida in Sundargarh District.

Posters were recovered from road-side trees of National Highway 215 and in Jamdih, Renjeda, Toda villages under K Balang and Koida Police limits of the District.

July 12

Suba Bandami, who was abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres along with five others from Potteru village under Malkangiri village (MV)-79 Police limits on July 5, was set free near a forest, some 20 kilometres from Potteru village in Malkangiri District.

Rabi Jani, a Home Guard of Macchkund Police Station in the District resigned from his post fearing Maoist attack, taking the number of resigned Home Guard to six. Police said after the resignation of Jani, the Macchkund Police Station is without any Home Guard.

July 15

Thirty-one members of CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS of Narayanpatna in Koraput District were acquitted in a case by the Fast Track Court of Jeypore. They were acquitted due to lack of evidence against them. They were alleged to have got involved in arson and rioting at Podapodar in 2009.

July 16

The SOG and DVF jointly raided a village and arrested a Maoist, identified as Gangadhar Madhi (19), from the Idikonda forest area under Motu Police limits in Malkangiri District.

July 17

SF personnel recovered a dump consisting of three landmines, three claymore mines and a huge quantity of gelatine sticks during anti-Naxalite combing operation in Narayanpatna area of Koraput District.

The Police officials arrested a cadre of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Kanhu Besra (24), from Barabati bazaar on national highway no-5 at Dharmasala in Jajpur District.

July 19

Three Maoist cadres, identified as Lengara Tiria alias Ramesh (18) Bela Purty alias Sunita (19) and Ladar Jamuda (20) of Baragotha village surrendered before the DIG (Western range) Y Jethwa and SP Ashish Kumar Singh in Keonjhar District.

July 21

The Police arrested three cadres of the CPI-Maoist in Ghumusara division in Ganjam District.

SP, Ganjam, Rajesh Pandit said the trio also disclosed that Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil, in charge of the Maoist organization in Odisha, was demoted recently because of allegations of sexual exploitation of female cadres against him.

Two women Maoist cadres, identified as Martha Majhi alias Minita (20) and Merry Majhi alias Kabita (18) of the Bansadhara divisional committee of the Maoists, surrendered before the Police in Gajapati District.

Security was tightened in Maoist infested areas of Odisha as Maoists martyrs' week begins from July 28 to August 3.

July 23

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a civilian in Narayanpatna area of Koraput District, suspecting him to be a Police informer.

The Police arrested sarpanch, Pradip Mallick of Hatimunda gram panchayat in Daringbadi block in Kandhamal District, on the charge of being a courier for the Maoists from Shanti Nagar area in Ganjam District.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a tribal youth in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District, suspecting him to be a Police informer.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Fakira Kiritinga (35), was arrested in Chandrapur area of Rayagada District. He was involved in several crimes including two murders and blasting of mobile towers, Police said.

A woman Maoist, identified as Jayanti Mahanta of Galada village under Telkoi block of Keonjhar District, surrendered before the Police in the District accusing her seniors of physical torture. While surrendering, she told reporters that she was imparted training in handling firearms, bombs and other explosives in Andhra Pradesh. She was involved in a number of offences, including attack on Similipal forest beat house in Mayurbhanj District, Police said.

The State Government decided to hand over building of a bridge to a State owned construction company after being unable to find a contractor in Maoist-hit Malkangiri District. The State Government had floated seven tenders for the 900 meter bridge at Gurupriya but contractors did not respond out of fear of Maoists, Works Secretary S. K. Ray said.

July 24

The Police arrested four alleged Maoists, including two women, near Paikmal at Amarpali on State Highway-3 in Bargarh District.

July 26

The State Government has sought the cooperation of the Centre to enhance the manpower in Odisha's General Railway Police (GRP) wing.

July 27

Maoists killed two persons in Niyamgiri hill area of the State. One killing occurred in Muniguda Police Station area of Rayagada District, while the other person was killed in Lanjigarh area of adjoining Kalahandi District. According to sources, Maoists termed both of them agents of Police and Vedanta Alumina Limited (VAL). The victim in Rayagada district was Dadhi Sikaka, a youth from Ambadhuni village. Maoists abducted him and his brother Lakshman Sikaka. Lakshman was ruthlessly beaten up and released. Body of the other victim Ajit Patnaik was found in a pool of blood near Ijirupa jungle on the Niyamgiri foothill in Kalahandi District.

The Maoist leadership has sent some key leaders to Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) from Chhattisgarh to strengthen the party and lift the morale of the cadres in AOB. Gajarla Ashok alias Ranganna alias Janardhan alias Aitu was assigned with the crucial responsibility of revival of the party in AOB by the central leadership. In-charge of South Bastar division in Dandakaranya special zonal committee (DKSZC), Aitu is a master strategist in military warfare.

About 25 kilograms of explosives planted by Maoists was recovered at Laxmipur in Koraput District by SFs. The recovery was made ahead of the 'martyrs' week' planned by the Maoists from July 28.

July 28

The Supreme Court order on appointment of SPOs in neighbouring Chhattisgarh was being examined by the State Government which would give regular appointment to them. "The court order may not be applicable for the state. The method of recruitment and engagement of SPOs in Orissa is totally different from Chhattisgarh," Chief Secretary B. K. Patnaik said. SPOs appointed in tribal-dominated districts in Orissa did not directly confront Maoists and would be taken as regular constables after completion of a three-year tenure, he said. The youths appointed as SPO' s in tribal areas received an opportunity to remain in mainstream instead of joining the Maoist brigade, he said. As many as 4,500 youths have so far been appointed as SPO' s in the State and the Government was not averse to recruit more, a home department official said.

July 29

The State Government decided to strengthen the elite anti-Naxal force, the SOG, by raising another 35 units and a CISF-like force, besides filling vacant posts of officers. This was decided at a meeting of the home department chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, official sources said. "Besides strengthening SOG, we have also sought more jawans [troopers] from the central para-military force (CPMF)," Home Secretary U N Behera told reporters after the meeting. SOG now has 50 units and another 35 units would be added to increase its strength, he said. The State Government also decided to raise a special State Industrial Security Force along the lines of CISF. "The crime branch of police, which had been dealing with important crimes, would now have an economic offence wing," he said. Besides, 788 vacant posts of Police officers and about 5,200 posts of constables would be filled this year. Behera said the Government has also decided to regularize the service of the Special Police Officers (SPOs) who have completed three years in service. At least 12 battalions of CPMF are now deployed in the State while two more battalions could arrive here soon, the sources said.

July 31

Maoists beheaded a man in Brahmanigaon area of Kandhamal District. The headless body was found near Saragudi village, which was identified by the villagers as Dakasa Majhi of the same village.

About 100 Maoists attacked and ransacked a Government approved foreign liquor shop at Padia village under Kalimela Police Station in Malkangiri District. This was the fourth attack by the Maoists on the same shop. After damaging the shop and stock, the Maoists targeted and ransacked the house of a villager who was selling foreign liquor illegally.

August 1

Financial assistance of INR 10,000 was provided to surrendered woman Maoist Susila Jilakara alias Puspa in Koraput under Government's surrender policy meant for the Maoists in the State. Puspa, wife of top Maoist leader Chandra Bhusanam alias Ghasi, had laid down arms before Koraput Police on April 26. Ghasi had been arrested on April 6. The Andhra Pradesh Government had announced a cash award of INR one million and INR 200,000 on Ghasi and Puspa respectively.

The Maoist leadership has been expanding the DKSZC's role to AOB zone. If sources are to be believed, the Maoist central leadership brought a new division in AOB, which was formed a year ago, under the ambit of DKSZC. With the entry of Bonda Gupteswar or Bonda Ghati group, DKSZC has at present 10 divisions. The sources said Maoists are adopting new strategies and restructuring organisational ranks in AOB to gain an upper hand in their fight against security forces.

August 3

This year, during the 'martyr's week (July 28 - August 3), the CPI-Maoist reportedly showed video programme to tribal villagers highlighting 'heroic' deeds of cadres who lost their lives fighting the Police. In some villages, the Maoists used projectors and mega screens to show video recordings of important Maoist incidents. If sources are to be believed, some leaders of central committee of Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee of the outfit are overseeing the whole arrangements. The Maoists have reportedly inducted more than 500 tribals into their fold during the week that saw vehicular traffic between Malkangiri and Jeypore being hit. Sources said in order to avoid being intercepted by police and intelligence agencies, Maoist cadres have begun communicating with high frequency (HF) radio waves which the security forces are finding hard to 'tap'.

The Centre asked Odisha if it was promulgating an ordinance on the lines of Chhattisgarh to make SPOs part of the State Police force.

August 4

Maoists killed two persons in Jubaguda village under Kotagada Police Station in Kandhamal District, suspecting them to be Police informers. The victims have been identified as Peter Mallick (38) and Sitaram Uthansingh. While the body of Peter was found with his throat slit, that of Sitaram had gunshot.

August 7

The MHA provided one MI-172 helicopter to the State to help it in its fight against the CPI-Maoist. The helicopter is to be stationed in Koraput.

August 8

Five cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including two women, were arrested by SFs from Madikeda village under Kotagad Police Station limits in Kandhamal District. According to Kandhamal SP Jayanarayan Pankaj, the arrested persons were involved in the murder of Sitaram Uthansingh and Peter Sunamajhi at Jubaguda village on August 4. They were tracked down as per the statement of an eyewitness of the murders. The arrested persons were identified as Tripati Kapat Majhi (23), Andrew Mallik (24), Sebastian Mallik (45) and two women Radhika Mallik (19) and Lurdu Patamajhi (19). SFs seized a large amount of explosive material, battery and wire used to detonate landmines, Maoist banners and posters from their possession.

August 9

The State Government sounded alert in all Districts with special instruction to those Maoist-hit ones, as the CPI-Maoist preparing to observe Kranti Diwas, to avert any law and order problem, official sources said.

SFs arrested two persons identified as, Herat Digal and Sudhansu Sekhar Nayak, at Gracingia village under G.Udaygiri Police Station for alleged links with the Maoists. One pistol, one revolver, six cartridges, and four live bombs were among the items seized from their possession. One Maoist uniform was also seized from them. Pankaj said investigation was on to ascertain the activities of these two arrested persons.

The Bandhugaon-faction of the CMAS organised rally and public meeting in Koraput District against Maoist violence. It was commemoration of the first death anniversary of tribal leader Kenduka Arjun, who was murdered by Maoists on Aug 10, 2010 at Katulpeta in Bandhugaon block.

August 10

Three CPI-Maoist cadres - a father and his two daughters - surrendered before Police in Rayagada District. They were identified as Mina Palaka and his daughters - Laxmi Palaka (18) and Saraswati Palaka (16), residents of Kalipeta village under Chandrapur block of the District. Mina was an 'area commander' of Bansadhara division of the CPI-Maoist. Mina was a close associate of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. He also used to work with Maoist leader Azad alias Dona Keshava Rao. Mina and his daughters were involved in several cases in Rayagada and Kandhamal Districts.

Chief Secretary B. K. Patnaik said that SPOs appointed in the State would be recruited as Police constables after completing three years of service, for which amendments in recruitment rules would be made. The State Government had initially appointed tribal youths as SPOs to give them an opportunity to remain in the mainstream instead of joining the Maoist brigade, he said. Altogether 4,500 youths have so far been appointed as SPOs in the State and the Government was not averse to recruiting more under the scheme, he added.

August 11

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Tuna Pradhan, was arrested and forwarded to court by the personnel of G. Udayagiri Police Station in Kandhamal District. He is a resident of Sakdai village in the limits of the Police Station. Interrogation revealed that he was trained in arms use by Maoists in 2009. The arrested Maoist was involved in bomb making, recruitment of gullible youths and provision of logistics to the Maoists, claimed Police.

The Police arrested a senior CPI-Maoist 'commander', along with two of his colleagues from the steel city of Rourkela. The Maoist 'commander' was identified as Prashant alias Shiva Munda alias Lambu, the second top man in the Maoist hierarchy controlling Saranda forest. The trio was trying to board a bus to Bhubaneswar near Hanuman Vatika in the city when the Police team intercepted them. Police recovered INR 7.6 million in cash and a gun from them.

August 14

A group of armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist shot dead a leader of the BJD, identified as Kishore Panda of Telenpali village, in Khaparakhol area of Bolangir District. According to Police, the Maoists arrived at Panda's house at around 9:00 pm and asked him to accompany them. Later, they shot him dead and dumped the body on the spot at one end of the village.

SFs and Maoists exchanged fire in Singabaram forest under Kelimela Police Station in Malkangiri District and Police claimed that some of the Maoists had sustained injuries. The encounter ensued when SOG and DVF jointly conducted raid in the area following a tip-off about the presence of a large number of Maoists.

Seeking concrete steps to properly implement various welfare schemes in villages, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the Maoist menace can be fought with rural development. "Rural development is the answer to fight Naxalism. It will improve the living standard of the people living in villages," Ramesh told reporters during a visit to the tribal-dominated and Maoist-hit Kandhamal District. Earlier Ramesh said the problem of LWE in Odisha is not as bad as in Chhattisgarh. Odisha is at the borderline, Ramesh said, adding that the situation can be salvaged if there is sensitive and effective administration in the State.

August 15

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist triggered a claymore mine blast at Jogipallur, eight kilometres from Narayanpatna block in Koraput District, as a team of BSF and SOG Police was about to clear a road that was cut off few days earlier. However, none of the SF personnel were injured.

SFs and the Maoists exchanged fire for more than one hour at Sapamunda in Bolangir District. Unconfirmed sources said at least two Maoists were killed and several others were injured in the exchange of bullets. SFs confronted with dozens of Maoists at Sapamunda, a fringe area of Sunabeda Sanctuary, while they were conducting search operation following the killing of a Biju Janata Dal Leader Raj Kishore Panda in the evening of August 14.

Maoists unfurled black flags in Koraput and Malkangiri Districts. Black flags and posters were found in Ramgiri, Lamtaput and Baipariguda areas of Naxal-hit Koraput District and Kalimela area of Malkangiri District. Road communication between Berhampur in Ganjam District and Daringibadi in Kandhamal District were disrupted due to road blockade set up by the Maoists in at least three places. The road blockades were put by felling trees at Kalama, Sarapanka and Dhaugaon villages under Sorada block by logs.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik called upon the Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream. "We believe in peace. Peace is necessary for development. Development cannot be achieved through violence," Patnaik said after unfurling national flag on the 65th Independence Day in State capital Bhubaneswar. "I appeal to the left-wing extremists to shun violence and join the mainstream," Patnaik said. He also highlighted various programmes his Government has initiated for the overall development of the State.

August 17

Twenty-five members of the CPI-Maoist-backed CMAS were acquitted by Additional District Judge court of Jeypore in Koraput District, in the case of a murder that occurred in 2008. It was alleged that Maoists along with CMAS activists were behind the murder. But the prosecution could not furnish evidences against the accused persons and all of them got acquitted due to lack of evidence against them.

August 18

The State has decided to up the ante against the CPI-Maoist with intensified combing throughout the State. Sources said the Government had stepped up its anti-Maoist drive after the arrest of three Maoists, including a top-level 'commander', from Rourkela on August 11 as they were trying to flee the stepped up combing in Saranda forests on the Odisha-Jharkhand border.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres and two sympathizers were arrested from Daringibadi area in Kandhamal District. They were identified as Kapil Pradhan, Prakash Pradhan, Jitendra Pradhan and Dharmendra Pradhan. Police have seized INR 100,000 in cash, leaflets and posters relating to Maoists from them.

August 19

K V Singhdeo, the sitting MLA of Patnagarh constituency, is under threat from the CPI-Maoist. The former minister in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 30 wrote that he received a telephone call from one Pratap Reddy, identifying himself as a Maoist leader. The caller said he was camping at Sanjabanjipali and wanted "food grain and money". "I was also informed that my life is under threat. I immediately reported the details of this call to Patnagarh police," Singhdeo said in his letter.

August 21

The District is on high alert amidst reports of hundreds of Maoists having entered the District from the neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

August 23

Some CPI-Maoist leaders from Bihar have made inroads into Kandhamal District of Odisha with some suspected nefarious intentions. Interrogation of four Maoists arrested in Kandhamal District has revealed this, Police said. According to Kandhamal SP Jayanarayan Pankaj it has been found that a senior Maoist cadre from Bihar named Rahim along with his wife has entered the District.

August 24

An exchange of fire occurred between SFs and the CPI-Maoist cadres following intelligence inputs that a group of Maoists have assembled at Kanchanpadu forests in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District. SFs neutralised a major transit camp of Maoists hidden inside the forest between Kanchanpadu and Rangampadu on Narayanpatna-Bandhugaon road. According to Koraput SP Anup Sahu, the exchange of fire occurred during a joint combing operation by the personnel of BSF and State Police. However, there was no casualty or injury on either side, the Police said. One Self Loading Rifle (SLR), one 9 mm gun, ammunition including magazine of light machine gun, 15 kit bags of ultras, Maoist literature, and medicines were recovered by the Police. It was suspected that around 60 cadres were camping in the Maoist camp.

August 27

Narayanpatna area in Koraput District is slowly getting out of clutches of the CPI-Maoist, feel the Police officials monitoring security in the area. One of the major hints is that the supporters of the Maoist-backed CMAS who are getting acquitted in cases pending against them are no more showing interest to be part of violent activities of the CMAS at the instigation of Maoists, said a senior Police official. Further, attendance in CMAS rallies is constantly decreasing, claimed the official.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, including a teenage girl surrendered before Police in Jajpur District. Tukuna Badara alias Rakesh (20) and Suturi Jamuda alias Madhuri (15) surrendered without arms, SP Deepak Kumar said. The duo was active in Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar Districts since 2009. They were also suspected of being involved in a blast at Dozer Padia under Kalinga Nagar area in 2010, he said.

August 30

The killing of Raj Kishore Panda, local BJD leader by CPI-Maoist cadres at Telenpali in Bolangir District on August 14 slowed down developmental work in the area as panicked villagers were not venturing out.

Two teenaged women CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Jamba Nachika alias Rina (18) and Tarai Mandingi (16), from Narayanpatna block of Koraput District surrendered before DIG of Police, south-west range, Soumendra Priyadarshi in Koraput District.

September 2

Five CPI-Maoist cadres including three from neighbouring Jharkhand surrendered before Police with arms and ammunition at Rourkela in Sundargarh District.

September 3

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed Purna Chandra Dalai (52), a local BJP leader, also a contractor by profession, whom they suspected of being a Police informer, in Malkangiri District.

Maoist commander of Udanti-Raighar-Sinapali border area committee, operating in Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, Laxmidhar Nayak alias Gundadhul surrendered before the SP Niti Sekhar in Nabarangpur District.

September 7

The success of the intensified anti-CPI-Maoist drive in the Saranda forests in Jharkhand bordering Odisha has prompted the State Government to plan similar operations at other Maoist bastions in the State.

September 9

Suspecting them to be Police informers, CPI-Maoist cadres killed two persons, including a contractor by slitting their throats in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District.

September 19

About 15 to 20 CPI-Maoist cadres dragged Narayana Duan (33), a forest guard, from Jaipur village and killed him in a nearby area, located in the foothills of Gandhamardan hill under Boden Police Station in Bargarh District.

The Grey Hounds of Andhra Pradesh and Special Operations Group of Odisha exchanged fire with Maoist cadres in the remote forest area of Musilimunda of Narayanpatna block in Koraput District.

September 21

Odisha Special Police recovered landmines and kit bags belonging to the CPI-Maoist in the Narayanpatna block in Koraput District.

September 23

An exchange of fire took place between the SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres near Kerubadi in Daringbadi block of Kandhamal District when the SFs raided a Maoist training camp inside the forests near Kerubadi.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has approved the State Government's plan for establishment of five ITIs and ten SDCs in five LWE-affected Districts of the State. The Districts are Gajapati, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Deogarh and Sambalpur.

September 24

Suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed Jagabandhu Majhi (39), a BJD MLA representing Umerkote assembly constituency and his PSO Prasanta Kumar Patra (25) at Gonahatapadar village under Raighar Police Station in Nabarangpur District.

September 25

A cadre of the CPI-Maoist identified as Rama Mahanta alias Dadhi Mahanta was arrested from Jarbera village at Bisra in Sundargarh District. A pistol and some bullets were recovered from his possession. According to the Police, Mahanta was involved in the killing of surrendered Maoist, Kandari Lohra alias Madhuri and her four-year-old son in February 2011. Mahanta was acting as 'area Commander' in Digha and Bhalulata areas and he has five cases pending at the bordering Bisra and Bandamunda Police Station in Sundargarh District.

September 27

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed one person identified as Mishra Khosla (35) on the suspicion of being a Police informer in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District. The body of Khosla was lying near Mankidi in the Narayanpatna Police Station area with his throat slit. The Maoists also set ablaze two vehicles managed by Khosla. Police recovered a letter written by Maoist leader Daya in Telugu near the body stating "Khosla was supplying information against Maoists to police. Anyone who helps police will meet a similar fate."

September 30

Two CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested during a combing operation in Rayagada District. The arrested cadres were identified as Rabi Majhi and Das Majhi of Godibali village within Kashipur block. "We were tipped-off about the presence of two Maoists at their homes and decided to nab them. There was no exchange of fire and no arms have been recovered from the arrested extremists," ASP Prasant Kumar Bhoi said. The arrestees were part of the newly-created Kashipur dalam of the CPI-Maoist and were involved in a series of Maoist offensives. "They had joined the Maoists few years ago and were armed cadres. They used to organize meetings and provide logistics support to the extremists, apart from taking part in Maoist offensives," the ASP added.

October 5

The CPI-Maoist is on a recruitment spree in Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangpur Districts. The recruitment drive comes in the wake of a series of reverses the Maoist have suffered in the last few months leading to depletion of their cadre strength.

October 9

SFs comprising CRPF and elite anti-Naxal SOG personnel neutralised a CPI-Maoist camp near Gaigot-Kuleijharan hills, under Kisinda Police limits, in Sambalpur District, following a fierce gun battle with the Maoists.

The Police arrested two supporters of Maoists identified as Nirakant Pradhan of Kerubadi village and Varsu Mallick of Gahedu village in Daringibadi area in Kandhamal District, on charges of supplying rice, ration and other material to the Maoist outfit. The duo was also allegedly helping the Maoists to paste Maoist posters in various places.

October 11

Gavaskar Nayak (27) was arrested in Kandhamal District for allegedly giving shelter to CPI-Maoist leaders in his house.

The Odisha bandh call given by the CPI-Maoist evoked lukewarm response in various Naxal-hit areas of the State, amid normal trade and business activities and vehicular movement, the Police said.

October 12

An exchange of fire between the CPI-Maoist cadres and the SFs took place in the wee hours of near Jamgaon village in Puintala tehsil in Bolangir District.

October 13

About three weeks after the murder of Jagabandhu Majhi, the BJD MLA representing Umerkote assembly constituency and his PSO Prasanta Kumar Patra at Gonahatapadar village under Raighar Police Station in Nabarangpur District on September 24, the CPI-Maoist cadres of Mainpur division of Chhattisgarh claimed that they killed Majhi as he was extorting and getting many people killed in their name. The claim was made through The Samaj, a local newspaper.

IG, Operation Y B Khurania, IG, Northern Range R P Koche, the CRPF Commandant and the Bargarh SP held a meeting with Bolangir SP Awinish Kumar and reviewed the law and order situation in the District and later, they toured Maoist-infested pockets in Khaparakhol block in the District.

October 18

The SFs recovered four landmines of 25 kilograms each during a combing operation in Godibali Chhaka near Kerubadi under Daringibadi Police limits in Kandhamal District. The CPI-Maoist were probably planning a major explosion and wanted to plant the landmines in the area, Kandhamal SP J N Pankaj said.

High alert has been sounded in all 14 Police Station areas in the District following revelations by Jagannath Nayak, a top Maoist that an attack by the Maoists was being planned.

Four activists of anti-Maoist CMAS of Bandhugaon unit were allegedly abducted by the Maoists near Katulpeta in Koraput District. The CMAS group of Bandhugaon block is opposed to violent activities of Maoists while the CMAS group of Narayanpatna block is allegedly supported by the Maoists.

October 19

CPI-Maoist cadres killed Puala Sadaram, a panchayat ward member of Sanakamara village and supporter of anti-Maoist CMAS of Bandhugaon unit, near Kumarganda village of Bandhugaon block in Koraput District. The Maoists had left posters in Odiya and Telugu language near the body claiming that he had been killed as he was opposed to their activities and also was a Police informer.

SFs neutralised a CPI-Maoist camp operating on a hilltop near Kharimari village under Adaba Police Station limits in Gajapati District. According to Police sources a group of Maoists, led by Nikhil of Bansadhara division, was camping at the spot, planning to disrupt road construction work in the area. Though some uniforms and food materials were recovered from the camp, the Maoists managed to escape.

Sanjib Jhankar, sarpanch of Meghapal gram panchayat and his associate, identified as Satya Ranjan Bhoi of Hiraloi village, were arrested by the Jujumura Police for allegedly trying to extort money in the name of Maoists in Sambalpur District. "We are investing if Jhankar had direct link with the Maoists or he was extorting money in their name as panicked people prefer to pay to such persons out of fear," said a Police Official.

October 20

The Maoists triggered a landmine blast in Kiriburu area in Keonjhar District. The blast damaged the glass panes of a vehicle ferrying three troopers of the CRPF, including the driver, who were proceeding from Kiriburu to Megadpur mines to pick up CoBRA troopers, Keonjhar SP Asish Singh said. However, no one in the vehicle was injured in the blast, the SP added.

The Maoists abducted Krishna Pidika, a supporter of the CMAS of Bandhugaon unit, from a market place in Almonda of Bandhugaon block in the District. A group of armed Maoists and their supporters dragged away Krishna from the market place. Krishna was attached to the cultural wing of the CMAS of Bandhugaon unit and used to sing songs at meetings organised by this group.

October 21

An accidental blast by the CPI-Maoist cadres killed eight cows inside the remote forest between Ramnabadi and Jirakua villages under Sorada Police Station in Ganjam District. "Maoists, fearing public dissent, did not the want the news to spread," said DIG, R.K. Sharma. As rumours started spreading, Security Forces visited the area on October 23.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at New Delhi and urged to include five more Districts, namely, Ganjam, Bargarh, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal and Jajpur under IAP to tackle CPI-Maoist problem in the State. During the meeting Chidambaram informed Naveen that the centre has already included Ganjam, Nayagarh and Jajpur in the action plan and would provide security related funds under the SRE scheme for four Districts, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir and Bargarh. Chidambaram has assured Naveen that Union Home Ministry will soon provide one more battalion of CRPF forces to be stationed in sensitive areas while it would take two to three months to send one more battalion of BSF forces. The Centre has also placed indent for 2 MI-17 choppers and placement is expected shortly, which will be put at the disposal of the State Police, the Home Minister said.

October 22

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Deba Kartami, allegedly involved in several offences was arrested by a Police team during a combing operation in Metaguda forest area under Kalimela Police Station in Malkangiri District. Kartami, an active cadre of Padia dalam, was involved in many criminal activities, SP, Aniruddha Singh said. Besides a single barrel gun, some documents were recovered from him.

October 23

Suspecting presence of Maoists from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, combing operations were intensified in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal Districts. We have launched combing operation for the last several days and will continue for some more days, Kandhamal SP J N Pankaj said.

October 26

Maoists exchanged fire with the SFs during a raid on a camp at Jadu Loisingh forest in Sambalpur District. The Maoists managed to escape. The SFs recovered a gun, three cartridges and five grenades from the camp.

October 29

The Police recovered a powerful landmine along with detonators, live-wires, batteries and splinters during a combing operation on the Kerubadi-Bhramarabadi road near Godamari Chowk in Kandhamal District.

October 30

A Maoist camp and a ' Martyrs Pillar' erected by them were destroyed by SF's during a combing operation in Malkangiri District. A large number of materials including fatigues, leaflets and utensils being used by the Maoists were also seized during a raid on their camp near Tumudimarka under Kalimela Police Station.

November 2

The CPI-Maoist gave a two-day bandh (shut down strike) call in Malkangiri District from November 16 to protest against the deployment of central forces in the area.

November 4

A Maoist camp was destroyed during an exchange of fire between Maoists and SFs at Paniganda forest areas of Munikhole gram panchayat in Rayagada District. SFs seized a rifle from the encounter site.

Police arrested a senior Maoist, Arta Bhoi, following a raid at Basloi village in Jujomora Police Station area in Sambalpur District. Allegedly, Bhoi was involved in as many as 19 criminal cases, including the arson at a crusher unit and a gun battle with Police near Jujomora. Police seized 10 detonators, three gelatin sticks, several batteries, 10 meters of fuse wire and a cell phone from his possession.

November 7

Maoists damaged an Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APRTC) bus between Dandabadi village and Parvatipuram in Koraput District on the Narayanpatna route demanding that Maoist leader Damodar who was arrested on September 25 be produced in court.

Suspected Maoists put up posters in Kerubadi area in Kandhamal District threatening eight persons for being Police informers. While four of them were asked to be present at a Praja court (Kangaroo Court), the other four were informed of death sentence being awarded to them.

CPI-Maoist cadres damaged an Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APRTC) bus between Dandabadi village and Parvatipuram in Koraput District on the Narayanpatna route. The Maoists were demanding that their leader Damodar, who was arrested on September 25, be produced in court.

Panic gripped the people of Kerubadi area in Kandhamal District after suspected Maoists put up posters in the area, threatening eight persons of dire consequences for being Police informers.

November 8

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested from Daringbadi Police Station area in Kandhamal District. The arrested Maoists were identified as Janardan Pradhan, Salman Pradhan, and Mahipati Pradhan.

November 9

Police arrested three suspected CPI-Maoist cadres from Jujomora Police Station area in Sambalpur District after conducting raids at various places. They also sized gun -powder from the possession of one of them. Police said they all were involved in a crusher arson case in Mundher village on October 25 and a gun battle with Police near Jhankarbahali jungle on the next day.

Following a meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, "There is a deployment of about 10,000 Central paramilitary forces in the State. However, the Maoists violence is still high in Orissa." "Four years ago, we had only four battalions of Central armed Police in the State. Today, their number is 13 battalions apart from one battalion of Cobra (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action)," he added. Reacting to Chidambaram's statement, the Chief Minister asserted that the number of casualties in such incidents had actually dropped because of his Government's proactive action.

Chidambaram advised the Odisha Government to announce a reward policy for getting information leading to arrest of top Maoist leaders. There are at least three top Maoist leaders in the rank of 'Central Committee' of Maoists who are moving in the State, revealed the Union Minister during his interaction with the State Government.

November 11

The State Government plans to set up 150 primary and upper-primary schools and recruit 7,000 teachers in the 17 Maoist-affected Districts.

November 14

A wanted activist of the Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) of Narayanpatna block in Koraput District, Julka Leku, was arrested.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a Panchayat ward member, Krushna Punji, in Khairpani village in Khaparakhol block of Bolangir District. The Maoists labeled him as a Police informer.

November 15

Even as the political atmosphere in Nabarangpur District's Umerkote is heating up ahead of the by-election on November 30, Maoist fear continues to cast a pall of gloom over the area. During the 2009 elections, Nabarangpur District, including Umerkote assembly segment, was considered a Maoist-free zone. Since then, in the last 20 months, the CPI-Maoist cadres have made inroads into the area, and have executed a series of offensives, including the killing of at least four people and blowing up the Kundai Police Station.

November 16

CPI-Maoist cadres slit the throat of a village head, Rama Kunja, at Bhubanpalli in Malkangiri District and chopped the finger of a school teacher in Koraput District. The teacher was attacked when he was trying to open the door of his school in Koraput District, Police said.

Normal life was affected in Malkangiri District following a two-day bandh call given by the Maoists. The bandh, which was called demanding withdrawal of SFs, affected normal life as vehicles were off the road and shops and educational institutions remained closed.

November 17

The CPI-Maoist warned BJD leaders not to campaign for the November 30 Umerkote Assembly by poll in Koraput District. They also asked voters to boycott the poll. "Don't express your franchise in the coming election. The government has done nothing for the tribals. Any BJD leader who dares to campaign at Raighar area will be eliminated," read a Maoist poster in Raighar.

A letter reportedly written by Maoist cadres with death-threat for 13 persons of Chandrapur block in Rayagada District reached local journalists. The letter signed by secretary of Bansadhara division of the CPI-Maoist reportedly ordered the 13 listed persons, said to be Police informers, to appear in their Kangaroo Court on November 27 or face death.

November 19

Odisha Government has planned to set up its own Pioneer Battalions to establish certain vital bridges and roads in the Maoist-hit Districts. Sources say the State Government, in the first phase, would raise two Pioneer Battalions on the lines of the BRO. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has accepted the State Government's proposal in this regard and has agreed to contribute INR 200 million for each battalion to be raised. Technical persons, including engineers, would be appointed in the Pioneer Battalions. Odisha would be the first State in the country to have its own Pioneer Battalions while the concept already exists in the Indian Army. The members of the Pioneer Battalions would be imparted special training to work in difficult situations.

November 20

The Police found the dead body of Sunil Debangan, the chairman of Nuapada Panchayat Samiti, near Godhas waterfall inside Sunabeda sanctuary. The CPI-Maoist cadres had left some posters near the body claiming that he was killed because of being 'Police informer' and 'anti-people'. Nuapada DSP, Prafulla Patra said the Maoists had fired when the Police went to trace Debangan's body. However, no one was injured.

November 25

The BSF personnel recovered a huge cache of explosives during an anti-Naxalite operation in Narayanpatna in Koraput District. Police said the explosives were hidden inside a hollow tree near Rajinguda village in Narayanpatna Police Station area. The recovered items include 45 kilograms of gel explosives, three buckets of gel IED, each weighing 15 kilograms, 7.5 kilograms gun powder, 15 kilograms urea and 200 metre codex wire.

November 28

Naxal posters were found at Rengali Tehsil Office in Sambalpur District. This poster of threatening was stuck by Odisha Liberation Tigers (OLT).

November 29

The bandh called by the Maoists in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj Districts, bordering Jharkhand in protest against the killing of their leader Kishanji, evoked a mixed response. Buses from these three Districts to Jharkhand stopped plying and vehicular traffic on NH-23 and 215 was also affected, Police sources said.

November 30

The bandh call given by the CPI-Maoist in the border Districts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh in protest against killing of top Maoist Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishanji evoked mixed response in Nuapada District.

Except the inter-state bus services that kept off the roads, the Maoist-sponsored 24-hour shutdown call evoked little response in the bordering pockets of Sundargarh District, close to Saranda forest in Jharkhand. However, no untoward incident was reported.

Despite Maoists' warning to boycott the Assembly by poll at Umerkote in Nabarangpur District, over 70 per cent of the 165,000 voters cast their ballot peacefully.

December 2

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze two cell phone towers - a BSNL tower at Mathapada and an AirTel tower at Kalia Attalla village - in Baipariguda block of in Koraput District and pasted posters and banners on school walls and trees on roadsides. The Maoists are targeting recruitment of a minimum of 2,000 youth and adolescents to the PLGA during the PLGA Week which began on December 2.

The Maoists pasted hundreds of posters in all the remote corners of undivided Koraput District (presently Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur Districts) including Baipariguda, Lamtaput, Kundra and Mathili blocks as also Govindpalli.

Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Lamtaput, Macchkund and Ankadeli area of Koraput District and Balimela, Chitrakonda, Padia and Motu areas in Malkangiri District.

The Maoists set ablaze two cell phone towers in Mathapada and Kaliatala in Boipariguda block in the District, to mark the beginning of PLGA Week.

Separately, during joint combing operation by the Police and the SOG in Almonda village under Bandhugaon block, the Police arrested 31 suspected Maoists supporters from Bargi and Langalabeda areas in the District.

December 3

The cadres of the CPI-Maoist killed a contractor, identified as Rabindra Bidika alias Ruben (40), near Bikrampur under Narayanpatna Block (administrative division) of Koraput District. Maoists suspected him to be a Police informer. Bidika was on his way to Narayanpatna on a Motorcycle along with two others, when a group of Maoists opened fire on them. Bidika died on spot while the other two were injured. The Maoists also set ablaze his motorcycle.

December 4

The two-day country-wide shut-down called by Maoists evoked mixed response in the State amid disruption of vehicular movement and closure of shops in some places.

The CPI-Maoist cadres blew up a school building at Salmi in Malkangiri District.

December 5

The Maoists set ablaze the battery room of a mobile tower in the District, on the second day of their two-day Bharat Bandh. According to sources, around 30 Maoists swooped down on the mobile tower belonging to a private cellular company in Kiang village, on Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, under Mathili Police Limits in the midnight and set the battery room of the tower on fire.

The Maoists set ablaze a truck at Jharmunda on Padampur-Nuapada road in Bargarh District. The empty gunny bags laden truck, bearing registration number OIS 8518, was travelling towards Bargarh town when it was obstructed at Jharmunda under Padampur Police Station in the District by a group of at least 100 Maoists.

December 6

Vehicular traffic came to a halt and markets remained shut in several CPI-Maoist-infested regions of the State on second day of the Bharat Bandh called by the Maoists. Impact of the bandh was felt in several places of Maoist-infested Districts like Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Sundargarh and Kandhamal.

The Maoists blocked the area by putting tree logs across the road, disrupting traffic, in the District. Padampur SDPO, N C Dansena, said Maoists have put logs on the road at Malda and Jharmunda, between Padampur and Paikmal, by cutting roadside trees. Public transport remained completely off the road, due to the blockade. Police said steps are being taken to clear the road.

December 10

The CPI-Maoist cadres, including women, attacked the camp of a construction firm at Saraikela village in Bargarh District and set ablaze about six vehicles.

December 11

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Prasanta Gulurika and Billura Brekawada, were arrested while trying to plant landmines on a road in Rayagada District. Explosives including two landmines, four electronic detonators and a few metres of live wire, Maoist posters, banners and handwritten letters were recovered from the possession of the arrestees.

December 13

A top CPI-Maoist cadre and three of his associates were arrested in Sambalpur District. The arrested Maoists were identified as Rambeer Sansar (22), Basant Herenz (51), Durga Topno (25) and Manglu Oram (55). Sansar, along with three of his associates, were arrested while they were on their way to the market.

The Odisha Police recovered a massive arms and ammunition dump of CPI-Maoist that included 15 landmines, 17 detonators and 6 pressure bombs from deep inside forests in Rayagada District.

December 14

A group of more than 50 armed CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a vehicle of Essar company near Pallankray village in Ralegada panchayat under Chitrakonda Police limits in Malkangiri District. The Maoists took the 7-member group of Essar company officials from Chhattisgarh as hostage in a nearby area and set the Tata Sumo vehicle on fire after pouring petrol on it. All the hostages were later released hours after the incident. The Maoists were in military uniforms and were speaking in Oriya and Hindi, said an eyewitness to the incident.

The District Police destroyed illegal hemp cultivation over 15 acres in Kendiriguda village within Padmapur Police limits in Rayagada District. Sources claimed that a part of the earnings from such cultivation goes to the Maoists and hence it is undertaken in Maoist-dominated areas.

December 16

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze the battery rooms of at least five mobile towers in Sorada area of Ganjam District. While two mobile towers were attacked in Gajalabadi, three were attacked in Ashurabandh under Sorada police station limits. Separate groups of about 20 Maoists each attacked the mobile towers belonging to private cellular operators located in Ganjam-Kandhamal-Gajapati border. Police also found a hand written poster of the Maoists from Gajalabadi. The poster said the Maoists had damaged the mobile towers in protest against the killing of CPI-Maoist politburo member Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishanji by SFs in West Bengal.

December 19

CM Naveen Patnaik told the Assembly on the murder of the then Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu Majhi that the case was being investigated and ''Evidence collected so far reveals the involvement of Left-wing extremists operating from Chhattisgarh''.

Dismissing allegations that the Government had miserably failed to tackle the Left-wing extremists, the CM said the militant activities of the CPI-Maoist have been contained to a great extent. ''There has been no organised Maoist attack on security forces during the last one year. Important roads have been secured for effective deployment of forces and operations by police and security forces,'' he said in his reply to the discussion on the supplementary demand of grants for the Home and the General Administration departments. The CM said his Government was formulating a revised surrender and rehabilitation policy by making the package more attractive to encourage Maoist cadres to give up arms. Stating that the strength of SOG has been substantially enhanced, the CM said inter-State coordination meetings are being held with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for better coordinated operation against the Maoists. The CM slammed the Union Government for reduced allocation of Central assistance under MPF scheme over the years despite the State utilising 99 per cent of the funds provided since 2000.

December 20

Two huge arms dumps of the CPI-Maoist were unearthed by SFs in Malkangiri District, close to Andhra Pradesh border. They were located during a joint operation by personnel of the BSF, SOG and DVF inside the dense Khalaguda forest, 35 km from Khairaput Police Station. The recovery included 24 gelatine sticks, 103 commercial detonators, two switches of IED, one IED box, three steel tiffin carriers used to manufacture IEDs, two wire bundles, batteries of remote control devices, electronic stop watch, various electronic circuits, 20 capacitors, and two large plastic drums. Publicity material of the Maoists, both in Odia and Telugu, was also unearthed. A projector screen was also seized.

December 22

During the recent observance of the PLGA Week, about 5,000 youths and adolescent girls were recruited by the CPI-Maoist particularly from Malkangiri District. Challenging the joint combing operation of Police, CRPF, SOG and paramilitary forces, they were able to hold open meetings for membership drive in the cut-off and remote pockets of the District. They held Prajamelis in around 10 villages, including in several village haats in Alampaka, Similibanki, Kusuguda and Kurmanur areas along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border.

December 23

After huge haul of explosives in Malkangiri District, including 24 gelatin sticks, the security agencies have launched a probe to find out whether the explosives meant for industries are being smuggled to the LWEs in the District.

The Odisha Police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from a forest in Koraput District. According to reports, the Police recovered landmines, tiffin bombs, one tonne of gunpowder and approximately 50 litres of liquid explosives and forty walky-talkies belonging to the CPI-Maoist.

December 26

Ramesh Charva (22), a key CPI-Maoist cadre, was arrested by the Rourkela Police in a combing operation in Jhirpani-Toda forest area in Sundargarh District. The Police recovered a revolver, five live bullets, INR 78, 500 in cash and a few Maoist leaflets from him.

A Police Station was inaugurated at Podia in Koraput District. Police were withdrawn from Podia after the CPI-Maoist cadres blew up the outpost in 2009. BSF and IRB personnel have also been deployed in Podia with the establishment of the Police Station there.

Note:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.

 

 

 

 

 
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