Odisha Timeline 2015

Date

Incidents

January 4

At least five CPI-Maoist cadres are suspected to have been killed in an anti-Maoist operation, involving Greyhound personnel of Andhra Pradesh Police, Odisha's SOG and Odisha State Police in Malkangiri District. IG of Police, South-Western Range Yashwant Jethwa however said officially the deaths cannot be confirmed as the teams have not recovered anybody.

Maoists killed two tribals, identified as Jaga Kabasi and Jaga Sodhi, at Keriaguda under Kalimela Police Station limits in Malkangiri District. After conducting a 'praja court' in the village, they tied up the two villagers to a tree and beat them to death.

A former Naxal 'commander' identified as Pramod Majhi alias Sagar (26) who was second in command in the OMP surrendered in Berhampur town of Ganjam District.

The exchange of fire between the CPI-Maoist and SFs and the suspected killing of five Maoists belonging to the AOBSZC at Bejingi forest in Malkangiri District is turning out to be a mysterious affair. Even a day after the exchange of fire, the Police were neither able to confirm the actual number of casualties nor recover any of the bodies to substantiate their claim.

An Odisha State Government audit has found a total of INR 12.8 million worth projects in Narayanpatna block of Koraput District has been embezzled.

The combing operation to arrest RK, in the Andhra Pradesh Odisha border region, will continue, said Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mahapatra. Maoist literatures, 500 bags of rice and grenades have been recovered from the encounter site.

A red alert has been sounded in the Visakhapatnam agency of Andhra Pradesh and along the Andhra-Odisha Border following a massive exchange of fire between the Maoists and Armed Forces near Mukundapalli village in Malkangiri District.

Krishna Kumari Panda, mother of OMP Chief Sabyasachi Panda, alleged that her son was being framed in the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. Deposing before Justice AS Naidu Commission of Enquiry into the 2008 killing of the seer and the riots that gripped Kandhamal District in the aftermath, Krishna said the person who had owned up to the murder in a TV interview was not her son.

Condemning the arrest of tribals in Odisha by BSF as Maoists, a top Maoist leader, identified as 'secretary' of Malkangiri Divisional Committee Poonam Chand, has asked the Odisha Government to stop 'Operation Greenhunt' with immediate effect.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik complimented the Odisha Police for achieving 'zero casualties' in 2014 while dealing with Left Wing Extremism violence.

IGP of south-west range of Odisha Yashwant Jethwa, IG of BSF AK Sharma and Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra visited the cut off area of Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri District.

Four armed Maoist cadres, including three women, surrendered in Malkangiri District.

A day after IGP of south-west range, Odisha, Yashwant Jethwa claimed that at least seven CPI-Maoist cadres have been killed in the ongoing 'Operation All Out' jointly launched by the Greyhound unit of Andhra Pradesh Police and the SOG and DVF forces of the Odisha Police, a Maoist leader rebutted the claims of any casualty on their side during the operation. Malkangiri Koraput Border Committee Secretary Ghenu, in an audio message, claimed that two security personnel were injured during a pre-dawn exchange of fire on January 5 at Tumbei-Dejing area near Balimela reservoir in the cut-off areas of Malkangiri District. However, there was zero casualty or injury on the Maoist side, he added.

The CRPF DG Prakash Mishra will review Maoist situation in the State.

The CRPF DG Prakash Mishra reviewed operation of the paramilitary forces in Naxal-hit southern Districts of Odisha. DG Mishra reached the CRPF camp at Chandrapur in Rayagada District and met some of the personnel engaged in the anti-CPI-Maoist operation. He said there would be a change of strategies to counter the Maoist threat in Odisha.

A primary charge-sheet was filed in Berhampur Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate court in Ganjam District by the Police against OMP leader Sabyasachi Panda after almost six months of his arrest in the city.

The NHRC has dubbed the 'praja court' of CPI-Maoist a 'drama' and slammed the Odisha Police for failing to protect a home guard who was 'convicted' in one such 'kangaroo court' before being lynched to death in Malkangiri District on September 5, 2014.

Suspense over the death toll of CPI-Maoist cadres in an encounter with Greyhounds of Andhra Pradesh Police and Odisha Special Operations Group (SOG) in Koraput District on January 5 continues. Bodies were not recovered and the death toll varies from five to seven.

Apprehending threat to lives from CPI-Maoist, four ex-Maoists surrendered before Police at Bonai in Sundargarh District.

Odisha's DGP Sanjeev Marik said BSF troopers engaged in CPI-Maoist prone areas in the State will be redeployed keeping in view the intelligence inputs.

A group of men, suspected to be CPI-Maoist cadres, torched a vehicle carrying mid-day meal for school children and ate the food before taking away the containers at Ijurupa under Lanjigarh Police Station limits in Kalahandi District.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres triggered an explosion on the Visakhapatnam-Raipur railway line at Munikhol near Muniguda Railway Station in Rayagada District injuring one railway staff and blowing up a portion of the track that led to disruption of train services on the route.

Police recovered three arms cache belonging to the Maoists in Khadisaru forest under Sorada Police limits in Ganjam District of Odisha. The seized items included three Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), 793 rounds of ammunition (318 rounds of SLR, 240 rounds of .303 and 206 rounds of 9 mm, 19 rounds of INSAS and 10 rounds of .22 rifles), 30 magazines (19 for INSAS, nine SLR and two for .303), 20 charge clips, two batteries, two battery stands, two steel containers and belts. The locations of the arms dumps were identified by former OMP leader Pramod Majhi alias Sagar. "We suspect these arms were looted from Nayagarh armoury of when the rebels attacked the district in 2008," said Ganjam SP Narasingha Bhol.

The Maoists blasted a railway track at Muniguda in Rayagada District of Odisha, leaving movement of trains affected for several hours along the route. The blast spot was a few hundred metres away from a CRPF camp. Though the track suffered damage, no casualty was reported from the incident. CPI-Maoist had given a bandh call in five Districts of the State protesting the visit of US President Barack Obama.

The CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a civilian, identified as Vanthala Bhaskara Rao, in Malkangiri District of Odisha, alleging him to be a Police informer.

The Maoists hoisted black flags near Rollagedda in Malkangiri District of Odisha and the 'east division committee' of the CPI-Maoist gave a bandh on January 26 along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border.

The Maoists also cut a pipeline of Essar company near Rollagedda in Malkangiri District of Odisha.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Joseph Munda (35), Sipren Munda (31) and Panalal Bhakta (17), surrendered before Police in Rourkela in Sundargarh District of Odisha. Joseph was involved in a murder case and landmine blast while Sipren and Panalal were also involved in many acts of violence. Panalal also cooked food for party members.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to provide two additional battalions of CRPF to contain CPI-Maoist in Nuapada and Malkangiri Districts of the State.

Villagers rounded up 16 of the 40 armed persons who had allegedly posed as CPI-Maoist supporters and attacked Tangapalli village of Odupa gram panchayat in Sadar block of Malkangiri District. They were detained in the local school building by angry inhabitants of Tangapalli. Rest of the members of the group are said to have escaped. Villagers seized several traditional weapons from the attackers. Three attackers and a villager sustained injuries during the scuffle between the two groups.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a contractor, identified as Laxmi Patnaik (23), at a weekly market in Trilochanpur under Lanjigarh Police Station in Kalahandi District. Some posters left by the killers claimed that Patnaik was a 'Police Informer'.

Koraput District has failed to utilize funds under IAP for developing infrastructure critical to fighting the CPI-Maoist. Only 13 per cent of INR 300 million, sanctioned by the Centre for 2014-15, was put to use till December 31, 2014 official sources said. During the ongoing financial year, the administration took up 555 projects, including construction of roads, culverts, electrification, supply of drinking water and education, in the Maoist-affected blocks of the District. Till December-end, only 51 projects worth INR 30.88 million were completed. The remaining projects are in different stages of construction, according to data available with the District Planning And Monitoring Unit.

The Supreme Court ordered immediate release of Sangram Mohanty, son of Jana Adhikar Manch convenor Dandapani Mohanty and member of Odisha Jan Morcha. He was in jail since December 5, 2012, for his alleged links with the CPI-Maoist. Sangram's counsel Suresh Tripathy said a bench of Justices V Gopalgowda and R Banumathi also asked the chief secretary to file an affidavit, within four weeks, as why Sangram's case should not be transferred to the CBI.

Security personnel and the CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire in Lanjigarh area of Kalahandi District. A joint team of DVF and CRPF was on a combing operation when the Maoist opened fire at them. Cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from the encounter site.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged the UHM Rajnath Singh to waive off INR 14.5 billion charged for the deployment of Central Forces in Maoist-affected areas of Odisha. The claim of Union Government towards deployment of Central Forces appears to be unreasonable, the Chief Minister said in his letter to UHM Rajnath Singh. The Chief Minister pointed out that it is the responsibility of both the Union Government and the States to fight the Maoists.

A CPI-Maoist camp was destroyed and explosives seized from Semlabhata village under Lanjigarh Police limits of Kalahandi District. The seizure followed an encounter between Police and the Maoists.

The CPI-Maoist called for a bandh in five states, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, on February 20 to protest the anti-people's activities of the State and Central governments. In a press release, the Maoists' Central Regional Bureau 'spokesperson' Pratap accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao as well as the CMs of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra of implementing destructive and anti-people policies. He said the bandh would be observed for 24 hours but emergency services would be exempted.

Armed CPI-Maoist cadres hacked a villager to death in Pallahara of Angul District suspecting him to be a 'police informer'. The villagers said a group of armed Maoists stormed into Pattamundai village and took away Samuel Bhadra after locking his family members in a room. They then hacked Bhadra to death and fled to nearby forest. The Maoists left behind eight posters which stated that Bhadra was eliminated as he was a police informer. They claimed that one of their leaders was killed by police on information provided by Bhadra. Angul Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandit Uttam Rao confirmed that Bhadra was not a police informer.

A trooper of SOG was seriously injured in a landmine explosion triggered by Maoists in Turekala area of Balangir District. "The jawan was engaged in combing operation in a forest area near Kameimunda village yesterday when the landmine went off," SDPO Titilagarh, Dillip Purohit said.

Four Maoists, including three women, with rewards on their heads, surrendered before IGP Yashwant Jethwa in Malkangiri District. The Maoists have been identified as Mangala Podiami (25) alias Arjun, Rame Madhi (25) alias Anita, Ganga Kurmi (20) alias Sangita and Kunjame Rajje (25) alias Gita. Podiami, Madhi, Kurmi and Rajje carried reward of INR 400000, INR 400000, INR 100000 and INR 100000 on their head respectively.

The court of ADJ in Koraput District of Odisha, acquitted Nachika Linga, leader of CMAS, of charges framed against him by the Police on May 15, 2011. It may be mentioned that the Narayanpatna Police, during the anti-Maoist operation, had seized a huge cache of arms and explosives from Kanchanpadu village on May 15, 2011 and registered cases against 35 persons, including Nachika on treason charges and the Arms Act. Terming the cases registered against the accused as baseless, Nachika's counsel Manoranjan Routray had moved the court. After hearing the petition of the counsel, ADJ Pradip Kumar Mohanta acquitted Nachika of the charges.

Personnel of the Odisha's elite anti-Naxalite force, the SOG, claimed to have busted two camps running inside Tekguda and Kurupa jungles under Kalimela Police Station limits in Malkangiri District and seized huge quantity of CPI-Maoist materials. The seized materials included pipe gun, pistols (two) magazines, explosives, gun and bomb making materials, Maoists dress, books, medicines and other essentials, Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said.

The DVF and SOG personnel of Odisha busted six CPI-Maoist camps in a forest near Tekaguda village of Kalimela block in Malkangiri District. Huge quantity of explosives and Maoist materials were seized from the spot. Materials seized from the busted camps included pipe gun, pistols, magazines, explosives, gun and bomb making materials, Maoists dress, books, medicines and other essentials, said Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. However, the SOG personnel failed to capture any of the Maoists as they had already fled from the camps.

A group of suspected CPI-Maoist armed cadres stormed into a country liquor making unit at Jamki village under Turekela Police Station limit in Sundargarh District of Odisha and set it ablaze after asking the security guard and other staff to go out. Some posters were found near the site with name of the CPI-Maoist, Police said adding the posters attacked both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik accusing them of working against the poor.

A huge cache of explosives allegedly belonging to the CPI-Maoist was seized during a combing exercise by CoBRA personnel from Pon Dungri nullah near Gatibeda village inside Sunabeda sanctuary of Nuapada District, Odisha. The seizure included 120 detonators, 37 gelatin sticks and 20 pencil batteries.

Five Maoists were arrested during a joint operation by personnel of SOG and BSF from Peda Tekguda village under Kalimela Police Station area of Malkangiri District of Odisha. Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said the arrested Maoists included Irma Kabasi (35), who had a reward of INR 100000 on his head. Kabasi was an armed cadre and 'member' of Kalimela 'area committee' of the CPI-Maoist. Another prize catch was Bandi Madhi (30), who was involved in the Alampaka ambush in Balimela reservoir on June 29, 2008, in which 38 security personnel, including 36 greyhound commandos from Andhra Pradesh, had been killed. The other arrested Maoists were Madhi Ganga (26), Bhima Madkami (30), militia member Anda Madi (21).

The CPI-Maoist would continue its armed fight against Police for the rights of poor in tribal areas, stated 'secretary' of Koraput-Srikakulam Divisional Committee of CPI-Maoist in a press release. "Maoist outfits in Narayanpatna have been working since long for tribal rights and have been successful in ending the harassment by landlords. The liquor trade has been stopped and the land of tribals returned to them through revolutionary means," it stated. Opposing the Green Hunt operation of Police in the region, Daya stated in the release that the efforts of the State and the Centre to stop Maoist movement in Narayanpatna would fail as they would continue their revolution. "The police operation has motivated the landlords to exploit the tribals again. Our fight is for saving the tribal land, forest and ensuring that the tribals have their share of all round development," it stated.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off a fleet of 32 new buses for LWE-affected areas of the State. "The State government has launched Biju Gaon Gadi Yojna for improvement in transportation in left wing extremists affected districts. Twenty-five small buses are already in service in these areas. In the second phase, 32 more buses would start operating in undivided Koraput, Ganjam and Kandhamal districts," said Patnaik. Bus services will certainly be a great help for people of these areas, he maintained. Under Biju Gaon Gadi Yojna, the State Government had announced to operate 100 buses in 71 identified routes in LWE-affected districts. Speaking on the occasion, State Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi said: "The government has already launched 57 buses. We will very soon purchase rest 43 buses in 2015-16 financial year."

Three women CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested in Malkangiri District during two joint operations by the SOG and the BSF. Two of them were arrested from Kamarpalli village under Mathili Police Station and another from Marigeta area of Kalimela Police Station. All of them were active members of Malkangiri division of CPI-Maoist. According to Malkangiri anti-naxalite cell, those arrested at Kamarpalli were Sambari Madkami (26) and Parvati Padiami (21). Sambari was providing logistic support to the Maoists, and Parvati was part of the local organizing squad in Mohupadar area. Debe Urmami (28), arrested from Marigeta, was the president of local unit of Mahila Sangham, a frontal organization of the Maoists in Kalimela Police Station area.

Odisha Government urged the Centre to provide two MI-17 or equivalent helicopters to the State for undertaking anti-CPI-Maoist operations. "I would request you to consider deploying two MI-17 or equivalent helicopters in the state at the earliest for effectively undertaking anti-naxalite operations," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Chief Minister Patnaik said he had earlier requested the then Home Minister in a letter on October 29, 2010 for stationing two dedicated MI-17 Helicopters at Koraput and Bhubaneswar for anti-Maoist operations in Odisha.

Intelligence inputs coming from CRPF and IB have suggested that the growing alienation among tribal population in various CPI-Maoist strongholds in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and parts of Bihar and Maharashtra has forced CPI-Maoist to order a study of socioeconomic impact of the central development schemes. The study has been ordered by the Eastern Regional Bureau of CPI-Maoist that supervises Maoist activities in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and North Chhattisgarh, sources said. The ERB has asked various state committees to undertake detailed study in villages and circulated a 19 column detailed pro-forma to be duly filled up by the surveyors. "The CPI (Maoist) has noted that if it has to spread and further revolution in the agrarian areas, it has to review its tactics in the light of socio-political and economic impact of the development schemes that have been there in the rural and tribal areas for the last two decades," said sources.

In their internal communications, the Maoist's have blamed these programmes for weaning away village level activists as they got involved in various contractual works associated with these schemes. Besides initiatives like Rs. 2 per kg rice for poor and Saranda action plan succeeded in misguiding some of its active cadres and sowed seeds of discord among them, the intelligence inputs note. The confiscated documents also suggest that some Maoist leaders lament the lack of maturity on part of some of its senior leadership for being unaware of changing ground realities and need for a comprehensive survey from a Marxist perspective.

Nine naxalites including two women cadre of CPI-Maoist surrendered before Police in Koraput District. Police stated that all the surrendered Maoists belong to Narayanpatna in Koraput District and were working for the Koraput division of the Andhra-Odisha-Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI-Maoist.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in a fierce exchange of fire with the Police during an anti-Naxal operation inside Churadangar forest near Godlajharan village of Golamunda block in Kalahandi District. The exchange of fire with the Maoists ensued when personnel of district Police and the elite SOG were carrying out anti-LWE operation, said Kalahandi SP Brijesh Kumar Ray. The Police also seized a sophisticated weapon and other materials from the spot.

With Odisha figuring low among the States in the Police-population ratio, the Assembly Standing Committee on Home Department has recommended a five-year plan to augment the strength of civil Police. Currently, the sanctioned civil Police strength ratio stands at 81.05 per 100,000 populations against the national average of 145.02. Interestingly, if the vacancy is taken into account, then State deploys just 71 civil policemen for 100,000 population. The panel, in its report, observed that the disparity could be attributed to a low civil police strength which needs to be raised. As per the NCRB, the civil police strength in the State stands at 30,850 in 2013. The panel has suggested a five-year plan to scale up the civil police strength so that the police-population ratio reached 100 per one lakh population. This can be done by creation of posts across the ranks and by putting in place required infrastructure both in urban and rural areas at a cost of INR 1.88 billion per annum. This can also address the growing law and order concerns, the panel observed. The House panel has suggested that a separate medical fund be created to provide emergency financial assistance for meeting the treatment cost of security personnel injured during anti-Maoist operations.

Security personnel had a narrow escape as a landmine planted by CPI-Maoist cadres in a forest road in Gochhapada area of Kandhamal District was detected and defused by them. The landmine weighing about 7 kilogram was kept in an aluminium container. The landmine was detected when CRPF personnel and District Policemen were carrying out a combing operation in the Maoist-hit forest area.

Protesting alleged Police fake encounters, the CPI-Maoist cadres set on fire to construction equipment and vehicles at the Lower Indra Irrigation Project site under Boden Police limits in Nuapada District. After setting fire to an excavator, two trucks and a tractor, the Maoists left behind a banner which mentioned that the Police were killing Maoists in fake encounters. They also called upon the people to ensure success of the bandh called by them in Nuapada, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur Districts in Odisha besides Dhamtari and Gariabandh Districts in Chhattisgarh. About 40 armed Maoists arrived at the site, took away the mobile phones of the people present before setting the equipment and vehicles on fire, said Nuapada SP Sunil Kumar Joshi.

Two female CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Phulbati (30) alias Mithila and Rukmati (28) alias Ramshila, from Chhattisgarh surrendered before IGP Yashwant Jethwa in Kalahandi District. They had joined the Maoist party in 2006 and were members of Koilibhitar 'area committee' at Mainpur under Nuapada Division.

The CPI-Maoist outfit is planning to form a new corridor to connect Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh through the districts of Sambalpur and Deogarh, said DG of CRPF, Prakash Mishra. He further said "The CRPF is ready to foil any such attempt by the banned outfit." Sambalpur and Deogarh districts are pivotal because of their strategic location and all efforts will be made to ensure that the Maoists cannot realise their plan of a corridor, added Mishra, who arrived in Sambalpur later in the day after reviewing anti-Maoist operations at Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary in Nuapada, which has become a hotbed of Maoists. "It will be easy to rein in the Maoists if they are denied setting up the corridor," Mishra said, adding that there has been a reduction in the Maoist movement in Sundargarh, Deogarh and Sambalpur whereas it has increased in Boudh, Kandhamal and Angul districts. He said the CRPF personnel have succeeded in containing Maoist activity in Sunabeda sanctuary and are now concentrating on the border areas of Nuapada and Chhattisgarh, where the ultras are currently active. On CRPF deployment in the State, the CRPF DG said it would be rationalised and the personnel stationed in areas which have marked subdued Maoist activities would be moved to places where ultras are active. He said the CRPF was working in tandem with the State Police. During his visit to the Sunabeda sanctuary, Mishra attended a function organised by CRPF in Sunabeda village as a part of their Civic Action Programme.

DG of CRPF Prakash Mishra told the media that if required more CRPF units would be deployed in Nuapada District of Odisha to free the area from CPI-Maoist. He added that he would take steps to ensure that tourists are able to visit Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Nuapada District without the fear of Maoists. Mishra, who went to Sunabeda village in a chopper, admitted that tourism was hit in the area due to increase in extremist activities in the past five years. The Maoists reportedly started spreading their base in Sunabeda in 2009. Since Chhattisgarh is close to Sunabeda, it became an added advantage for the Maoists. At present, the CRPF and CoBRA personnel have been deployed at Barkot, Jamgaon, Sunabeda and Soseng villages. Sources in the forest department also said the number of visitors has gone down owing to Maoist menace. The department recorded 22,000 footfalls between 2001 and 2005. The figure dipped to 2009 between 2006 and 2009. In 2010 and 2011, only 815 tourists visited the place. No tourist has visited the area since 2012.

Seven hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres including the dreaded Donna Keshav Rao alias 'Azad', accused in the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in August 2008, launched a fast-unto-death at the Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar demanding speedy disposal of their cases. However, Jharpada Jail Superintendent Rabindranath Swain did not reveal the names of the Maoists leaders who were on fast inside the jail. "The Maoist leaders had earlier submitted a written report with the jail authorities stating that they would sit on a fast unto death till justice was done to them," Swain said. Azad, an accused in the VHP leader murder case, had surrendered before Andhra Pradesh DGP K Aravinda Rao on May 18, 2011. He had carried a reward of INR one million on his head at that time.

The Odisha Government said as many as 300 LWEs have returned to the mainstream in the past five years. Furnishing a written reply to a query in the State Assembly, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said "During the last five years, more than 300 persons have joined the mainstream in Odisha by shunning violence. Out of them, more than 170 persons have benefitted in accordance with the 'Surrender and Rehabilitation' scheme." Under 'Surrender and Rehabilitation' scheme, surrendered LWEs are entitled to financial assistance up to INR 2,50,000, payment up to INR 25,000 for surrender with weapons and cash at the rate of 0.4 decimal of homestead land. The Odisha Government also provides house building grant at the rate of Indira Awas Yojna to LWEs who give up arms. A screening committee after careful scrutiny of each case recommends rehabilitation of LWEs, the Chief Minister said. He, however, declined to reveal the names of LWEs rehabilitated under the scheme citing security reasons. The Odisha Government has claimed that the LWEs situation has been gradually improving in the State. Not a single security personnel involved in counter-Maoism operations was killed in 2014. In the last three years, there was relatively low level of violence in Odisha. During this period, 66 civilians and 26 security persons lost their lives in 254 Maoist incidents. In comparison to this, 2009, 2010 and 2011 witnessed 377 LWE-related violent incidents in which 109 general public and 71 security personnel were killed by the extremists. Commenting on civilian killings, he said "The Odisha Government has created specialised forces and upgraded intelligence and security infrastructure in naxal-affected areas to effectively deal with naxal activities and secure the safety and security of people." "Preventive area domination operations and anti-naxal operations are regularly done in the naxal-affected areas in co-ordination with Central Armed Police Forces deployed in Odisha as well as security agencies of the bordering LWE affected States," the Chief Minister pointed out.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Debe Madkami and Muda Sodi, surrendered before the Police in Malkangiri District. SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said the two Maoists, working in the District as active members of AOBSZC since 2007, were involved in more than 15 violent incidents, including anti-landmine blast in Telerai and attack on BSF camp at Madhusudan Pally MPV-21 village in the District. Debe Madkami said he and his associate had decided to surrender in protest against their top cadres, who, in gross violation of Maoist ideology, started torturing and killing innocent tribals.

Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik described the law and order situation in the state last year as peaceful even as he raised concern over LWE which he said was still a "sensitive" issue in five Districts. "The LWE situation remains sensitive in the Districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bolangir," Patnaik said during the debate relating to expenditure of Home Department. Further, the CM said 253 mobile towers would be set up in the Maoist-prone areas of Odisha this year, added Odisha Sun Times. Talking about anti-Maoist operations in the state, the CM said the Police had arrested 71 Maoist, including top cadres like Sabyasachi Panda and T Anil Kumar, in 2014. During the operation against the red rebels, Police had seized 34 state-of-the-art weapons and 143 other arms and ammunitions.

Donna Keshav Rao alias Azad, the dreaded Maoist accused in the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in Kandhamal District in 2008, called off his fast-unto-death inside the Jharpada Special jail in Bhubaneswar in Khordha District after an assurance from the District administration that steps would be taken to expedite his trial. The dreaded Maoist, along with six others, had begun a fast-unto-death on March 24, demanding a speedy trial.

CPI-Maoist activities are on the wane in the State, CM Naveen Patnaik informed the Odisha Assembly even as a white paper tabled in the House said the Maoists killed 20 people last year (2014). Taking part in the discussion on expenditure of Home Department, the CM said, "There has been substantial improvement in the overall containment of Maoist situation in State. The intensity of Maoist activity is on the decline." He added there was improvement in the situation in Districts such as Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundargarh and Nayagarh in 2014. He said 99 rebels surrendered in the State in 2014 while Police arrested 71. CMAS leader Nachika Linga surrendered last year (2014) while most-wanted Sabyasachi Panda was arrested. A record 143 weapons, including 34 advanced weapons, were recovered from the rebels. He further said situation still remains sensitive in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Balangir. Stating that connectivity plays an important role in restricting LWE, he said the government is planning to install 253 mobile towers in the LWE-affected Districts. The white paper said six Maoists were killed in 76 Maoist-related incidents last year (2014). However, Opposition political parties contested the government claim.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik informed the State Assembly that three years (2009, 2010 and 2011) witnessed a total 377 Maoist violence cases in which 109 general public and 71 security personnel were killed by the extremists. Similarly, during 2012, 2013 and 2014, the State suffered loss of lives of 66 civilians and 26 security persons.

Five years after announcing to provide homestead land to next-of-kin of the State Police personnel killed in anti-Maoist operations, the Odisha Government finally spelt out modalities of transferring such land. In 2010, the State Government had declared that next-of-kin of the State Police personnel who die while discharging their duties in anti-Maoist operations would be allotted up to 0.04 acre of government land in an urban area or 0.10 acre of government land in a rural area free of premium for homestead purpose under the provisions of the Government Grants Act, 1895.

LWE continues to be a challenge for the Police in Odisha, said DGP Sanjeev Marik briefing newsmen on the occasion of 80th foundation day of the Odisha Police. "Naxalism remains a challenge for us. We have not been able to completely wipe it out from the state. Therefore we will be laying special emphasis on it in the days ahead," said Marik.

After over six-month delay, two new advanced military choppers have landed in India to be inducted into the elite air wing of the BSF, which is tasked to carry air support missions for troops along the borders and in the hinterland for anti-Naxal operations. The Russian-made Mi-17 V5 choppers will boost the flying capability of CPMF that are deployed for a variety of internal security tasks in some of the most arduous and inhospitable conditions at numerous locations. The official said the choppers have been initially based at the BSF hangar at Safdarjung airport in New Delhi, and are expected to be formally inducted into the fleet by UHM Rajnath Singh on April 9. The new pair, sources said, is expected to be tasked for anti-Naxal operations and with their new bases in Chhattisgarh (Jagdalpur) and Odisha (Koraput).

The CRPF personnel seized a tiffin bomb and 10 kg of explosives, along with a fuse wire, two tin boxes and plastic bags from a CPI-Maoist camp in Gandhamardan Hill adjoining Marjyadapali village in Sambalpur District of Odisha.

Senior Police officers of nine LEW-hit states gathered at Bhubaneswar in Odisha to discuss ways to tackle Maoist-related problems. The workshop, organised by the UHM, was chaired by Odisha DGP Sanjeev Marik and attended by intelligence heads Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bihar. The MHA had directed the Maoist-affected states to replicate the strategy used by the Odisha Police to deal with the Red rebels. The focus of the meeting was on Intelligence sharing among the Naxal affected states.

Alleging that the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha is working for the interests of multinational companies like Sterlite instead of poor tribals, the CPI-Maoist has threatened to kill BJD MLA from Lanjigarh and chairman and vice-chairman of local panchayat samiti.

A CPI Maoist cadre, identified as Shankar Munda alias Johan Barla (27), involved in series of violent incidents in Odisha and neighbouring Jharkhand, surrendered before Police in the presence of Bonai ASP R.B. Panigrahi and CRPF Assistant commandant Rakesh Sharma in Bonai subdivision in Sundargarh District of Odisha. He was active as an armed cadre in the Saranda forest area from 2007 to 2012, and was involved in a series of incidents of Maoist violence in Tholkabad and Dhiga area of Jharkhand and bordering villages under Saranda village area of Odisha.

CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly abducted seven tribals, including a former panchayat samiti chairperson, from two remote villages under Mathili Police Station in Malkangiri District of Odisha. According to sources, six persons from Kartanpalli including Trinath Bhumia, the former panchayat samiti chairperson of Mathili block and another from adjoining Bara village were abducted by the Maoists.

A day after the abduction of eight villagers by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres in Malkangiri District, the Odisha Police has adopted caution instead of mounting a search operation in a hurry. "Of the eight persons who are allegedly abducted, we have information that three were former militia members. But the rest have no links either with Police or administration for which they could be targeted. Besides, all of them are tribals and if harmed, it will only make a dent in the credibility of Maoists," said a senior officer. State Police sources said so far, no complaint has been lodged by family members of the eight on the abduction. "We are conducting inquiry at our end but would not violate any SOP in a hurry," the officer said.

The Malkangiri Adivasi Sangha raised a voice of protest against the Maoists for abducting eight villagers in Kartanpalli in Malkangiri District of Odisha. After a meeting in Malkangiri, the tribal body said it would resort to retaliation against the Maoists if the eight villagers are not freed immediately and unconditionally.

CPI-Maoist cadres from Chhattisgarh, who had reportedly abducted 11 people including a former chairman of a panchayat samiti in Malkangiri District of Odisha in the night of April 14, released all of them. Though initial reports said only 7 people were abducted, later it was found 4 more people too were picked up by Maoists. Over 20 Maoists from Darbha ghati led by their leader Vinod Kashyap had abducted people from Kartanpalli, Barha and a few other villages under Mathili panchayat samiti of Malkangiri District on Orissa-Chhattisgarh border. Among those abducted included former chairman of panchayat samiti Trinath Bhumia. Neither any of family members of the abducted persons nor any other villager had lodged a complaint with the Police. The villages from where Maoists abducted the people are very near to Darbha ghati of Sukma District (Chhattisgarh). While Bhumia of Kartanpalli and Bonduku Golar of Barha village were released a little earlier, the rest 9 were let off after the Maoists held a Praja court where they thrashed three including the local sarpanch for 'helping the Police'. The villagers were warned of the dire consequences of helping the Police.

Odisha DGP Sanjiv Marik said all the 11 people have been released. "But it's hard to say if these people were abducted as they are Maoist sympathisers. A few of them are former militias of the Maoists. We would interrogate the 11 to find out the truth," said Marik.

Strategies have been drawn to rein in the CPI-Maoist in Kandhamal and its neighbouring Districts, said Odisha DGP Sanjeev Marik. Inaugurating the Town Police Station in Phulbani in Kandhamal District, Marik said Maoist groups are aiding the villagers in cultivation of ganja in rural pockets of the District with an aim to increase their hold over the area. Since the contraband is cultivated in large areas, it is not possible to destroy it manually. It has been decided to uproot the illegally cultivated ganja with the help of machines, said Marik.

Maoist posters were found near Kurli panchayat office under Bisamcuttack Police Station limits in Rayagada District of Odisha. In the posters, Maoists protested the aggressive operation of the CRPF against them and the plan to establish new CRPF camps in Niyamgiri. The posters and banners were found a day after the IG of CRPF, Piyush Anand, took stock of the steps taken to curtail Maoist menace in the District.

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a woman cadre, surrendered in Malkangiri District of Odisha. The rebels, identified as Irma Kabasi, Era Madkami and Radhika, were carrying a reward of INR 100,000 each on their heads. They are allegedly involved in over 29 cases related to murder, landmine blasts, attacks on Police and other offences. Kabasi was allegedly involved in the attack on a convoy of Congress leaders at Darbha Valley in Chhattisgarh in 2013, while the other two were active in Kalimela area of Malkangiri.

The Odisha Government has brought huge relief to the 347 SPOs by appointing them as Constables in the OAFP. This is in recognition to their satisfactory performance over the last three years. These SPOs, mostly tribal and women, will help the special forces in combating Maoists in various areas of the State. Their appointment as Constables was approved by CM Naveen Patnaik. Out of these 347 personnel, 196 are from Rayagada, followed by Koraput (67), Deogarh (35), Jajpur (20), Ganjam (12), Keonjhar (8), Rourkela (6), Sundargarh (2) and Nuapada (1).

CPI-Maoist posters were found at various places across Narayanpatna block in Koraput District. In the posters, the Maoists demanded end to the anti-Maoist 'Operation Green Hunt', exploitation of tribals by landlords and withdrawal of Police deployment from different tribal pockets. Sources said the Maoist outfits working in Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and bordering pockets of Odisha-Andhra Pradesh had started putting up the posters after the recent public meetings held by the Police in the area.

In an attempt to stop doctors from leaving Government hospitals and community health centres in poverty zones of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) as well as CPI-Maoist-affected areas, the Odisha Government has decided to double their salary. The state Cabinet decided the state would be divided into four zones depending on accessibility and vulnerability to Maoist violence, with V1 being the least vulnerable and highly accessible and V4, being most vulnerable and least accessible. As per the Cabinet decision, a non-specialist doctor in a V4 zone like Malkangiri and Koraput would get INR 80,000 a month, including INR 40,000 as incentive. Even inaccessible areas in coastal Districts would also be put under V4 zone. A specialist doctor in the same zone would get anything between INR 150,000 and INR 180,000. Those working in the remotest areas will get 100 per cent hike in their salary while the doctors working in the remote and far-off tribal areas will get additional INR 40,000 apart from their salary.

SFs seized weapons hidden by the CPI-Maoist cadres inside a forest in Sundargarh District of Odisha. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of CRPF and DVF launched operation in Silkuta Reserve Forest near Langalkanta and seized four guns, three small bore rifles and a pistol, ASP R Panigrahi said.

The Odisha State government is actively considering funding of MPF Scheme. "The Centre has decided to stop financial support to states for modernization of police forces, including augmentation of infrastructure and procurement of modern equipment and vehicles," DGP Sanjeev Marik told the media after the state-level empowerment committee meeting, which was presided over by Chief Secretary G C Pati, in Bhubaneswar. According to official sources, the chief secretary has asked the Home Department to calculate the expenditure in a year. "The scheme is necessary to augment infrastructure of police forces to meet new challenges," said an officer. The State used to receive INR 1.27 billion every year from different central sources.

In 2013-14, the expenditure under MPF Scheme was ammunition (INR 26 million), equipment (INR 57 million), purchase of vehicles (INR 78 million), procurement of intelligence equipment (INR 7.7 million), Police training (INR 7.4 million), communication (INR 10 million), investigation (INR 3.7 million), forensic (INR 29 million), solar power for Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project (INR 28.4 million) and modernization of home guard (INR 8.3 million). Similarly, a huge amount was spent on fortification of Police Stations in Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) zone, and construction of staff quarters and office buildings of home guards and vigilance, the sources said.

Jailed OMP leader Sabyasachi Panda and former mediator during abductions Dandapani Mohanty ended their hunger strike in Berhampur of Ganjam District. Both called off their hunger strike following a joint appeal by a group of civil rights activists of Odisha. OMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

Construction of the bridge on River Gurupriya in Malkangiri District has finally got underway amid tight security provided by BSF personnel. The area is considered a den of the CPI-Maoist. Former Chief Minister of Odisha JB Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the bridge way back in 1982.

The Odisha State Government requested the Centre to provide INR 30 billion to continue implementation of several key programmes which will face shortage of funds in the coming days due to reduction in Central assistance. Besides, it has also asked the Centre to continue funding of ASD plans which are being implemented in backward and Maoist-affected areas of the State. The ASD plans include special scheme for KBK (undivided Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi districts) region, BRGF and IAP. The Centre's decision to delink eight schemes from Central support and change the sharing pattern of 33 Centrally-sponsored schemes will substantially reduce the quantum of Central assistance in 2015-16. The State Government will have to provide funds from its own resources for sector specific and State specific programmes which were recommended by the TFC. However, the FFC has not recommended any grants for sector and State specific programmes. In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, CM Naveen Patnaik has said delinking area development programmes like KBK, BRGF and IAP from Central assistance will severely affect development programmes taken up in Maoist-affected districts. The loss on account of reduction in Central assistance will be about INR 8,037.26 crore. The State Government will receive an additional INR 5,883.43 crore on account of the 10 per cent more devolution of funds recommended by the FFC. The additional liability of the State Government will be INR 2148.83 crore in 2015-16.

An exchange of fire took place between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres at a remote location near a hill in Gochhapada area in Kandhamal District. According to Kandhamal SP Kunwar Vishal Singh, since May 3, a troupe of DVF had launched an anti-Maoist operation in the area following intelligence reports that some Maoist cadres from Chhattisgarh were moving around in the region to recruit new cadres and increase support base.

An IED suspected to be planted by CPI-Maoist cadres exploded due to some reason in Kalimela Police Station area of Malkangiri District. According to Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, this blast occurred on Borigeta-MV32 road. It is suspected that the IED was planted to target SFs including the BSF. Although no SF personnel were travelling on this road when the blast occurred, some civilians had a narrow escape.

Seeking speedy trial of their cases, 11 under trials, including three women inmates, held a fast at special sub jail, Bhanjanagar in Ganjam District. All the 11, jailed in LWE related cases, demanded that they be granted bail. They had earlier pleaded to the local court that their cases be taken up early.

Three wanted woman CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Sapai Miniaka alias Tulsi, Talas Wateka alias Geeta and Laxmi Prasska, of Koraput Divisional Committee under AOBSZC surrendered before the Koraput District Police. The three woman cadres were involved in several cases of loot, murder, attack and arson in the bordering areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for past several years. They were in the wanted list of several Police Stations in the District and the State Government had announced a reward of INR 100,000 on each of them.

Odisha DGP Sanjiv Marik visited Malkangiri and Koraput Districts to review the CPI-Maoist situation. The DGP felt there was need of deployment of two more battalions of BSF in this region to increase area dominance of SFs. Before reaching Koraput, DGP Marik visited Malkangiri District. According to the DGP, construction of Gurupriya bridge, which had been till date stalled by Maoists, would be a major catalyst of improved communication and development of 151 villages in this cut off area. The construction work of the INR 173 crore project is now on since September, 2014 by Kolkata based Royal Infra Construction with active Police protection. The project is expected to be completed in two years.

BSF personnel engaged in anti- CPI-Maoist operations escaped unhurt after a landmine exploded off a forested road near Balipeta under Narayanpatna Police Station limits in Koraput District. "Few minutes after a vehicle carrying our forces passed the crime spot, the explosive went-off. There is no report of any injury or casualty," said IGP, South-Western Range, YK Jethwa.

The Maoists through an audio tape released charged both the Centre and State Government of favouring Vedanta and Utkal Aluminium International Limited in Rayagada District by using security personnel against tribals. "Both the governments are working as agents of these two companies. The state government is trying to handover Niyamgiri hill to Vedanta for bauxite mining and torturing tribals of the area," stated the voice in the audio tape. The voice identified as that of Sukdev, 'secretary' of Kashipur-Niyamgiri division of CPI-Maoist, urged the government to provide basic facilities to people living in Niyamgiri hill and withdraw security Forces.

Fearing CPI-Maoist, around 60 tribal families of cut-off region of Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri District left their village and sought security from the District administration. The tribal families of Andrapalli and Panasput villages under Kudumuluguma block met Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra and requested him to provide them adequate protection against the Maoists. The panic-stricken villagers said the Maoists had killed two villagers a few days ago suspecting them to be Police informers and set several houses on fire. They also said they have been forced to leave their village as the Maoists have been torturing innocent tribals and threatening to kill them.

The Odisha State Government has decided to extend Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana to all 30 Districts after the Centre stopped funding of BRGF and IAP schemes. BRGF and IAP were being executed in backward and CPI-Maoist affected Districts of the State. However, the Centre de-linked these two schemes from assistance in the 2015-16 budget. Now the State Government has decided to provide INR 6.5 billion to the GGY after its extension to all Districts.

A village guard, identified as Jaga Khilo, was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at Petru village under Pottangi Police Station limits in Koraput District. The Maoists left a handwritten letter near the body of the deceased in which they alleged he was a 'Police informer'. Koraput SP, C.S. Meena said as a village guard Jaga surely had contacts with the Police. "But this unarmed village guard living in a remote village was nothing but a soft target for the Maoists, who owing to frustration of their declining base in Koraput District resorted to this heinous murder as part of their terror tactics," the SP added. It was suspected that this murder was the handiwork of Maoist cadres of Srikakulam-Koraput division of AOBSC of the CPI-Maoist.

CRPF is planning to procure new type of drones for use in anti-CPI-Maoist operations, said DG, CRPF, Prakash Mishra in Koraput District. But he added that the drones used till now have not brought in remarkable results, so they are planning to procure new type of drones that would be fruitful for anti-Maoist operations.

CRPF DG Prakash Mishra has further said CPI-Maoist has planned to rebuild their old bases in some core areas of Odisha in order to strengthen their organisation. DG Mishra, who visited Sunabeda in Koraput District of Odisha to review the progress of training institute of the 202 CoBRA of the CRPF, said the Odisha Police should remain alert over the movements and plans of the Maoists who are planning to rebuild their old bases in the State.

60 families from the cut-off area in Malkangiri District left the Chitrakonda camp where they had been housed by the administration reportedly over Maoist fear. They were staying in the camp since June 5, 2015 after deserting their village for being allegedly harassed by Maoists on charges of being 'Police informers'.

CPI-Maoist cadres attacked and ransacked a camp site of a construction firm involved in widening of a public road at Ganjeipadar village under Pottangi block of Koraput District. The owner of the construction firm Pradip Padhi claimed that the Maoists torched an excavator, a tractor and a concrete mixture machine at the worksite camp. The Maoists also damaged 15 other machines used for construction work.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik demanded that the Central Government should release funds for construction of roads in nine districts dominated by the CPI-Maoist. The CM, who is on a five-day visit of New Delhi, raised the issue during his meeting with UMH Rajnath Singh. Odisha Government has submitted a proposal with a list of 47 road projects totaling 864.22 km in nine Maoist-dominated districts estimated to cost INR 1620.10 crore.

A country liquor manufacturing unit was raided by a group of 20 armed CPI-Maoist cadres at Telenpali village under Khaparakhol block in Bolangir District. Although no casualty was reported in the Maoist attack, the Maoists set ablaze the liquor-making unit and fled with cash. Country liquor worth over INR three million were stated to be damaged in attack.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a Christian pastor, Ramesh Majhi (42), of Puijhari village under the M Rampur Police Station limits in Kalahandi District suspecting him to be a Police informer. Locals found Majhi's body in the Telen Reserve Forest near the village.

CPI-Maoist cadres have set ablaze a kendu leaf godown under Lathore Police Station limits in Bolangir District. Police said this is the sixth godown to be set on fire by the Maoists in the area in 2015.

With Maoists on active mode, the Odisha State Police is contemplating to redeploy Forces in certain areas of western and northern regions from where SF personnel had been withdrawn in the past. "We will redeploy forces at those places from where they were withdrawn months back. As the situation has changed, we have decided to take proactive measures," DGP Sanjeev Marik told media persons. Marik claimed that strength of the State police has increased manifold, and State forces' dependence on Central forces to tackle CPI-Maoist menace has declined. "State forces like District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) are fighting against Maoists along with Central forces. The strength of SOG has now increased to 3,000 from 1,500," DGP said. He, however, said that Maoists activities have declined in K Balang, Koira, Bonai and Lathikata areas which were earlier considered their stranglehold.

The DGP added though Maoist activities have come down drastically, forces would be redeployed along the borders of Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Deogarh Districts to tackle the small Maoist groups. "Jharkhand-based splinter Maoist outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and another Jharkhand-based criminal outfit Pahadi Cheetah have been neutralised on Sundargarh side of the border in Odisha," he said. He further said Odisha Police are gaining self-sufficiency in containing the Maoist menace due to increase in manpower to 65,000 from 40,000 in the last 12 years.

Two hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Adama Kawasi (21) and Rama Madkami (20), carrying reward money of INR 100,000 each on their head, surrendered in Malkangiri District. Both were active members of Malkangiri Koraput Border Division. "Kawasi was the personal bodyguard of Uday, secretary of MKBD of Maoists," said Inspector General of Police (IGP), south west range of Odisha, Yashwant Jethwa.

The Naveen Patnaik Government said the State was set to lose funds to the tune of INR 21.48 billion following reduction in central allocations for States on the basis of the 14th Finance Commission report. The reason behind the huge drop in central share could be attributed to the change in pattern of some central welfare schemes and discontinuation of a few other schemes, Chief Minister was informed in a review meeting held on June 26. Patnaik expressed concerns over the sudden cut in fund provisions for Backward Region Grant Fund, police modernisation, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan, model schools in blocks, tourism infrastructure development, national mission for food processing and some tribal development projects. The meeting resolved to continue some welfare schemes by utilising State's own resources. The Chief Minister said the Centre would be requested to reconsider a cut in funding for tribal development and police modernisation in naxal affected Districts.

The slow pace of PMGSY in IAP districts has marred the objective of providing all weather connectivity to all rural and remote areas in the State. According to data of rural development department, 7422 road projects had been sanctioned under the PMGSY till May 2015, out of which 2178 projects are going at a snail's pace. The projects had been sanctioned for 18 IAP Districts.

The CPI-Maoist is believed to have formed a 'new committee' called the Malkangiri-Visakha-Koraput Divisional Committee with an experienced leader at the helm to strengthen the rank and file and regain their past glory.

Security has been tightened in southern Odisha Districts as CPI-Maoist has given a call for observation of 'protest week' from July 1. Through a release, Venu, 'secretary' of Malkangiri-Visakha-Koraput divisional committee of CPI-Maoist earlier said that this protest week was against setting up of Police camps and outposts in remote areas and 'illegal' arrests and 'fake surrenders'.

With the Maoists kicking off their 'protest week', BSF IG P.S. Sandhu conducted an aerial survey of the border areas of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh as well as Malkangiri District of Odisha. Sources in the Police Department said Maoists put up banners at Busiputtu area in Munchingput mandal and Police observed some suspicious movement of unidentified persons at Kumkumpudi village in GK Veedhi mandal in Vishakhapatnam District on June 30. Some movement of Maoists in small groups was also noticed at the interiors in the Agency area, sources said.

OMP leader Sabyasachi Panda and two others were acquitted by the SDJM Court of Berhampur in Ganjam District in an illegal arms seizure case. OMP is a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist.

The CPI-Maoist cadres allegedly killed a tribal civilian, identified as Raman Tamarabi (40), in the cut off area of Balimela reservoir near Chintamchilika village in Malkangiri District. It is alleged that a group of armed Maoists had abducted Tamarabi from Chintamchilika village on June 1, suspecting him to be a 'Police informer'. His body was found in the forest near the village. The throat of the victim had been slit open. Some locals claimed that the body also had bullet marks.

A tribal man, identified as Lalit Dora (50), was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres in Dhuliput village in Paparmatla area under Chitrakonda Police Station area in Malkangiri District suspecting him to be a Police informer. Maoists stormed in to his house in the night, dragged Dora out and thrashed him to death as the rebels are observing 'protest week' demanding halt to anti-Maoists operations by SFs.

July 2

An exchange of fire took place between SF personnel and the Maoists in the forests of Mara and Atul under the Barkote Police Station limits in Deogarh District. Deogarh SP Sarah Sharma said the exchange of fire took place at around 11 am while joint Forces, consisting of personnel from Deogarh Police, CRPF and DVF, were conducting combing operations in Mara, Atula and Khunta forests in the District.

July 4

The State Government asked the Police to act tough on the CPI-Maoist, especially along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Chief Secretary G.C. Pati issued the direction while reviewing the overall law and order situation in the State.

People from as many as 30 villages have reportedly attended a meeting conducted by the CPI-Maoist on the Andhra-Odisha border region, the first day of the two-day bandh call. The meeting was conducted by the Malkangiri-Visakha-Koraput division committee of the CPI-Maoist and the committee's 'secretary' Venu had renewed the party's warning to the five families that the party accused of involving in the killing of two Maoists near Korukonda in Visakha Agency during October last. The party would not spare the five families but the rest of Girijans living on the Andhra-Odisha border need not fear the Maoists and could stay in their villages.

Protest week observation by the CPI-Maoist in south Odisha during the first week of July led to loss of around INR 6.3 million for the OSRTC. The OSRTC incurs losses at least around INR 20.7 million in south Odisha because of its disruption of service due to bandhs and protest observation calls by the Maoists.

A hardcore woman CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Nirmala, was arrested by Balangir District Police from Titilagarh Railway Station in Balangir District. The Police had also arrested another Maoist, Goutam Bag, along with her. But Bag allegedly committed suicide.

SFs intensified combing operation in CPI-Maoist-affected Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Laxmipur areas of Koraput District, after five tiffin bombs, three bundles of live wire, Maoist uniforms, literature and medicines were found by BSF troopers in Kunjeru forest under Bandhugaon Police limits.

Two Maoist banners purportedly put up by the Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund Divisional Committee of the CPI-Maoist were found in Tilenpali village under Khaprakhol block of Balangir District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres released all the abducted villagers of Mahupadar under the Mathili Police Station in Malkangiri District. According to reports, the Maoists released all 11 abducted villagers after hearing their pleas in a 'kangaroo court' deep inside the Dandipadar forest in the District. While most of the abducted villagers were found innocent, a few were issued warning for committing mistakes, sources said.

The ADJ Court of Berhampur quashed imposition of UAPA on arrested OMP 'chief' Sabyasachi Panda and Dandapani Mohanty by the prosecution.

The CPI-Maoist cadres have thrashed 11 people on the charges of being 'Police informers' in a 'people's court' in Malkangiri District.

Arrested OMP 'chief' Sabyasachi Panda, who had started hunger strike in Berhampur circle jail in Ganjam District on July 15, was shifted to MKCG medical college and hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres including three females surrendered in Malkangiri District. Odisha Government had declared INR 100,000 reward on heads of each of two male cadres Subba Madkami (22) and Soma Padiami (35) who surrendered. The three surrendered female Maoists were Debe Madkami (30), Laka Kawasi (25) and Bhime Madhi (25).

Exchange of fire took place between the cadres of the CPI-Maoist and SF personnel in Kalahandi District.

Maoist 'central committee member'' Jampanna, who is carrying a cash award of INR 2.5 million on his head, gave SFs the slip during an encounter that lasted half an hour at Pongabaju reserve forest in Kalahandi District. Brijesh Kumar Rai, SP, Malkangiri District, said Jampanna along with 50 to 60 Maoists fled the spot when the SFs tried to cordon them.

CRPF personnel stationed at Boden in Nuapada District seized local made guns from the house of one Jarman Majhi, a villager of Sial Lati village of Boden block in the District. The CRPF personnel while conducting a search operation found two barrels, a country-made pistol and bullets from the house of Jarman.

Maoist posters were found in several places of Bargarh District. Ahead of their Martyrs' Week from July 28 to August 3, the Maoists sought support from people for their movement. Posters and red flags were found at Jharmunda Chhack on Padampur-Paikmal road. Similarly, handbills printed in Hindi were found scattered in the area.

An exchange of fire took place between SF personnel and CPI-Maoist cadres in Madagurha forest under Tumudibandha Police limits in Kandhamal District. The exchange of fire started when Maoists opened fire at a joint team of the SOG and of DVF personnel who were patrolling the forest.

Odisha Police recovered two bodies of CPI-Maoist cadres including a woman from Madaguda reserve forest in Kandhamal District. The duo might have been killed in the exchange of fire between the SFs and the Maoists, Police said. SFs also recovered three rifles, including a SLR, two tiffin bombs with wires, three rounds of ammunition, several empty cartridges and medicines from the dense forest.

A poster, purportedly written by the Maoists, seized from Malkangiri District bus stand has put Police in spot. It has appealed to the public not to hold up public transportation during the Martyrs' Week, beginning July 28. "We doubt the authenticity of the poster," said Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, SP, Malkangiri District.

In a bid to instill confidence among the people and ensure all-round development, the Koraput District administration is all set to launch a special programme, 'Operation Blue Moon', in Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon blocks. 'Operation Blue Moon' would be launched on August 4, a day after the July 28-August 3 protest by Maoists for its slain activists, and will span over eight weeks, Collector of Koraput District Jaya Kumar V said. During the period, people's grievances will be addressed, surprise inspection of government offices carried out, villagers' demands for various projects will be listed and infrastructure development work expedited.

Security has been beefed up in Maoist infested blocks of Koraput District in view of the Martyrs' Week from July 28. Maoist banners and posters found in Narayanpatna called upon the youths to join the Maoists to fight for justice.

Balangir District SP Deepak Kumar received a letter from the CPI-Maoist warning him of dire consequences, during the on-going Martyrs' Week since July 28. According to reports, the Maoists have held him responsible for death of a cadre Goutam Bag and have threatened the SP to punish him.

Three cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including two female cadres, were killed in an encounter with the Police in remote Burudi forest near Tandki village of Malkangiri District. Odisha DGP Sanjiv Marik confirmed the encounter.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in Malkangiri District. The surrendered Maoists were identified as Arun Kumar Madhi alias Erra (35), Sina Madhi alias Dula (24) and Irma Madkamai (20). Arun and Sina, carried INR 100,000 reward each on their heads while Irma Madkami was a Maoist militia.

DG, CRPF, Prakash Mishra, who visited Sambalpur District reaffirmed that local Police and CRPF will work with full coordination to combat CPI-Maoist problem in the State and also in Sundargarh-Deogarh-Sambalpur corridor. He also admitted the growing activities of the Maoists in the region. "But we are ready to face any challenge," he said. "Very strong operation against them will be initiated to stop their new venture here," the DG added. Prior to visiting Sambalpur, DG Mishra visited the Gandhamardan hill area spread across Bargarh and Balangir Districts. "My intention was to see the forces deployed in this area in hospitable situation and morally boost them up," DG Mishra said. More forces from Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj Districts will be mobilized to Gandhamardan area to meet the requirement here, he informed.

A group centre of CRPF would be established at Basantpur on the outskirts of Sambalpur city, DG Mishra said. He said this will be the second CRPF group centre in the State after Bhubaneswar.

The Rayagada District administration has decided to continue with development works in villages where the Dongria Kondhs, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), reside even though the CPI-Maoist has alleged that the officials are working as agents of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (Sesa Sterlite Group).

A tribal woman sustained bullet injury during a gunbattle between CPI-Maoist cadres and security personnel at Kadambo forest in Koraput District. "The woman was passing through the forest at the time of the gunbattle and got caught in the crossfire on Friday evening. Her condition is now stable. She is under treatment at Koraput hospital," Koraput SP Charan Singh Meena said.

CPI-Maoist East Division Committee called for bandh on Independence Day, August 15. They also urged the people to boycott I-Day celebrations and instead hoist black flags on the day. In a press note issued to the media, the East Division Committee alleged that in the past 68 years after independence, the poor had continued to remain poor and it was only the rich that prospered in the country.

The CPI-Maoist urged the people of Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri Districts to observe the upcoming Independence Day on August 15 as a 'Black Day'.

Bullet-riddled body of a tribal allegedly killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres was recovered from a village road near Telarai under Motu Police Station limits in Malkangiri District. According to Police sources, the deceased was identified as Gurumurthy Madhi, a resident of Telarai village. The Maoists had left behind handwritten posters near the body stating that Gurumurthy was a 'Police informer' and was involved in motivating Maoist supporters of his area to renounce violence and return to mainstream.

Two militia members of CPI-Maoist surrendered before SP K. Siva Subramani in Rayagada District. The surrendered Maoists are identified as Rahul Gagaranga (25) and Sunil Gagaranga (26), belonging to Tangadappa village under Chandragiri block of Rayagada District. They have been providing shelter, protection, food and logistics to the Maoists operating in Chandragiri area apart from getting involved in acts of violence.

Security personnel and CPI-Maoist cadres exchanged fire at Surupazu under Gocchapada Police Station limits in Kandhamal District. Kandhamal SP Kanwar Vishal Singh said that there has been no loss of life during the exchange of fire.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Sunita Wonchemi, Kushi Kuthami, Iti Kunjami and Ganga Karatapi, surrendered before SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, in Malkangiri District. According to Police, all four were armed cadres of the Padia dalam (squad) of the CPI-Maoist, and were involved in many incidents of violence reported from the State.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said LWE continues to be a challenge in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput and Nuapada. CM Patnaik said this while replying to a debate in the Assembly and claimed CPI-Maoist activities have gone down in the 11 districts of Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundergarh and Nayagarh, despite the CPI-Maoist efforts to re-group in these areas. "The position continues to remain challenging in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput and Nuapada," he added.

Three BSF personnel and a civilian were killed in a CPI-Maoist ambush in Malkangiri District. Six BSF personnel were also seriously injured in the incident that occurred in the cut-off area of Balimela reservoir near Palangarai ghat under Chitrakonda Police Station limits at around 6.30 a.m. The patrol party that faced the Maoist ambush was part of the 104th battalion of BSF that has a base camp near Janabai. According to Inspector-in-Charge of Chitrakonda Police Station P. Durua, this team was returning by boat after area domination and patrolling in the cut-off area of the reservoir. While they were alighting from the boat, a landmine planted by the Maoists went off. It was followed by firing by the Maoists who were hiding nearby.

CM Naveen Patnaik condemned the Maoist attack on BSF troopers in Malkangiri District. "The ambush was targeted at BSF with an intention to stall the construction of Gurupriya bridge, which will link the cut-off areas with the mainstream," the CM said while making a statement in the State Assembly in Bhubaneswar.

A Maoist camp was busted by SFs following an exchange of fire for over an hour under Baipariguda Police Station area of Koraput District. This exchange of fire occurred at around 10.30 a.m. inside Majhiguda forest. Tents, kitbags and other items of daily use of Maoists were seized.

SFs recovered two powerful tiffin bombs at Telengapadara in Gajapati District. "The bombs, weighing 27 kg and 25 kg, were defused by the bomb disposal squad," said SP Satyajit Nayak.

Personnel of the CRPF and the SOG busted a CPI-Maoist camp and recovered two guns and cartridges under Khaprakhol Police limits in Balangir District. The security personnel also found food, tiffin boxes, batteries, bags and medicines.

Hand-written 'Maoist' posters were found pasted at different places under Adava Police Station limits in Gajapati District have warned the BDO and the JE of Mohana block against indulging in corruption.

A hardcore CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Mesha Muschaski, who was carrying INR 100000 reward on his head, surrendered before Malkangiri District Collector D. Prasantkumar Reddy and SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in Malkangiri District. Along with him, around 125 Maoist 'supporters' also promised to part ways with the Maoists and lead normal life. Mesha was associated with Podia 'dalam.'

CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead the son of the Sarpanch of Madkapadar panchayat under Khairput Police Station limits in Malkangiri District suspecting him to be a Police informer. Sources said a group of about 20 armed Maoists and their supporters stormed Madkapadar village around midnight and took away Dambru Sisha (35), son of Sarpanch Sukhdei Sisha, from his house at gun-point to nearby forest.

Three Maoists, including two carrying rewards on them, surrendered before Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. The surrendered Maoists were Muka Kunjami (35), Mukund Sodi (30) and Budra Kunjami (32). The Government of Odisha had declared a reward of INR 100,000 each for capture of Muka and Mukund. All these surrendered Maoists were members of Podia LOS of Malkangiri division under AOBSZC of the CPI-Maoist.

Four CPI-Maoist militia members and 40 supporters of them from Mathili Police Station area surrendered before Police in Malkangiri District. The surrendered Maoist supporters were from remote Gumkaguda and Intekguda villages of the region. The four Maoist militias, who surrendered were identified as Budra Sodhi, Soma Madhi, Adma Beti and Mangudu Kartami. Two village committee members of Maoists named Ganga Madhi and Tula Kartami were among them. Eighteen women Maoist supporters were also among these surrendered.

A female CP-Maoist cadre, identified as Sapna alias Niharika (19), surrendered before Rourkela Police of Sundergarh District and CRPF's 19th Battalion. A former 'section commander' of the CPI-Maoist, she was associated with its Saranda Sub-Zonal Committee.

The CPI-Maoist has failed to recruit localites of Odisha into its violent fold, claimed State DGP Sanjiv Marik. He said this while on a visit to Berhampur in Ganjam District to review the Maoist problem. According to him, majority of Maoists active in Odisha as well as their leaders in the State was from outside Odisha.

DGP, Odisha, Sanjeev Marik further said that less than 100 Odia Maoist cadres are currently operating in the State. He said "About 400 active Maoist cadres are present in Odisha of which the Odia cadres would be less than 100. Most of the rebels are from Andhra Pradesh. We have brought Maoist activities under control in the past two-three years."

129 CPI-Maoist supporters including 35 women, 18 militia members and six village committee members of Terubai village under Podia Police limits in Malkangiri District surrendered before Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mahapatra and 202 CoBRA Deputy Commandant Anand Panwar at the District Police office.

53 persons belonging to 15 households of Andrapalli panchayat in the cut-off region on the other side of Chitrakonda reservoir in Malkangiri District fled their homes after the Maoists threatened them. Police said the villagers have taken shelter at Upetkut village under Khairput Police limits after Maoists threatened to eliminate them if they do not support them.

Eleven CPI-Maoist cadres and their 50 supporters surrendered before the Police in Malkangiri District. Those who surrendered were from remote Entaguda, Gumkaguda and Orelguda villages of Kalimela Police Station area.

Fifty-eight more CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered in Malkangiri District. They surrendered before Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. They included 12 Maoist cadres and two village committee members of Maoist organisation. All of them were from Eralguda village under Kalimela Police Station. A total of 377 Maoist cadres, militias and supporters from different remote villages of Maoist-infested Police Station areas like Podia and Kalimela have surrendered before the Police since August 31.

With LEW receding considerably in Odisha barring three districts, the State Government decided to prepare a separate strategy to deal with the changed situation. This was decided at the Unified Command meeting presided over by Chief Secretary G.C. Pati in Bhubaneswar which was also attended by the Development Commissioner, Secretaries of the Home and Finance Department, Odisha DGP Sanjeev Marik besides IG of BSF and CRPF. The meeting resolved to undertake socio-development works in the worst-hit regions including the cut-off area in Malkangiri District while intensifying anti-Maoist operations at the same time, a senior government official said. He added adequate stress is being given on intelligence gathering network and proper coordination between local Police and Central Para-Military Force. Endorsing the view, DGP Sanjeev Marik also said though Maoist situation remained grim in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput and Nuapada, their activities have been reduced to a great extent in other parts of the state. However, what has posed a new challenge for security personnel here is the Maoists' bid to create a new corridor passing through Boudh, Kandhamal and Nayagarh district.

The CPI-Maoist has called a bandh in Malkangiri District on September 25 in protest against the recent surrender of villagers in the District before Police. Over 500 people in four villages surrendered to Police in less than three weeks. In a letter to media persons, 'secretary' of the Maoists' Malkangiri division committee Poonam Chandra urged the locals to cooperate with them on the bandh.

The State Government emphasized early completion of development projects in the LWE-affected districts. The decision was taken at the state-level unified command meeting headed by chief secretary G C Pati. Though details of the meeting were not revealed, timely completion of 910-meter long Gurupriya bridge in Malkangiri District was the focus of the discussion. "The chief secretary asked the director general of police to provide security cover to ensure uninterrupted construction of the project," said an officer, who attended the meeting.

A joint team of SOG and DVF busted a gun-making factory of the CPI-Maoist at Dulagunda under Kalimela Police limits in Malkangiri District. The total haul included seven live grenades, four single barrel muzzle loading rifles, motor, weighing machine, recoil springs for use in manufacturing of guns, huge quantity of tools for use in manufacturing of guns, explosives and splinter, gelatine, cortex and electric wire, explosive powder, detonators, tiffin cases and batteries were seized. Besides, four tiffin bombs each weighing 5 kg, four pressure mines and Maoist uniforms and literature were also recovered. Sources said that the unit was being run by the technical unit of the AOBSZC, led by Ram Krishna alias RK. The technical team of AOBSZC and Kalimela area committee was being led by Damodar alias Bellam Narayan Swamy, a Special Zonal Committee member and Mettur Joga Rao, alias Tech Shankar. Shankar is a Divisional Committee Member.

381 CPI-Maoist supporters surrendered before Malkangiri Police in Malkangiri District. The Maoist supporters were from seven remote villages of Materu panchayat under Podia block of the District. The supporters marched to the Malkangiri District Police Headquarters in a group to surrender before Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. Since August 31, there has been a rise in the number of surrenders by Maoist elements in Malkangiri District. Till now around 758 Maoist supporters including militias from remote Maoist-prone regions of the District have surrendered.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, including a 'divisional committee member' from Chhattisgarh - identified as Sunadhar - were killed in an encounter with SFs near Bhejaguda forest under Malkangiri Police Station limits in Malkangiri District. Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said Sunadhar carried a reward of INR 500, 000 on his head. Identity of the other two Maoists killed in the encounter has not been ascertained. The SP added the encounter took place between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. when a troupe of DVF of Malkangiri District had stumbled upon a secret camp of Maoists at the encounter spot. When the Maoists opened fire the SFs retaliated. Exchange of fire continued for around 15 minutes. Unable to face the fire power of security personnel, three Maoists in the camp died at the spot while the rest managed to escape.

The Maoists have opposed 'Operation Bluemoon' launched by the Koraput District administration in Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon blocks recently. Maoist leader and 'secretary' of the Srikakulam-Koraput Divisional Committee Daya through letters sent to media persons in Koraput District demanded a stop to the operation accusing the administration of trying to construct roads for establishment of BSF camps in Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna blocks to suppress the Maoist movement.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian, identified as Trinath Madhi, under Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District, suspecting him to be a 'Police informer.' The body of the villager was found in a pool of blood on the outskirts of the village. Sources said about 20 armed Maoists reached Tembrupalli village around midnight and dragged Madhi from his house at gun-point to a nearby forest. They reportedly held a Jan Adalat before killing him.

The Maoists have given a bandh call in Malkangiri District on September 25 to protest against recent surrenders of Maoist supporters and militias.

Eighty-eight CPI-Maoist supporters surrendered in Malkangiri District while the Maoists observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the District to protest against continuing surrender of rural Maoist elements in the District. The supporters included dozen militias and one village committee member of Maoists. They all belonged to Badaliguda village under Kalimela Police Station limits.

Police recovered around three quintals of explosive in semi-liquid form in Koraput District and arrested a person for transporting them in an SUV. The arrested has been identified as Subala Choudhury, a resident of Chhattisgarh, said Police.

Large quantity of explosive materials hidden by CPI-Maoist was seized by BSF personnel in Malkangiri District. Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said the seized explosives included 930 gelatine sticks. They were unearthed from a secret dump of Maoists inside the Rajalkonda forest under Kalimela Police Station.

Malkangiri Zilla Adivasi Sangh pasted posters at various places of Kalimela, Mathili, Podia, Korukonda and Balimela urging the tribal community to get united against the CPI-Maoist.

Maoists have denied terrorizing villagers in the cut-off area of Malkangiri District and accused Police of trying to defame the outfit by spreading rumours. In a letter to media persons, 'secretary' of Malkangiri-Vishaka Division, Benu said "We have neither harmed anyone nor asked people to leave their villages. Police are luring people with false promises of jobs, houses and training at Chitrakonda and Malkangiri and spreading rumours that they are leaving villages due to Maoist fear." The Maoist leader appealed to the villagers to return to their respective villages and live without any fear. "We work for the development of the tribals," the letter said.

A tribal, Arjun Khara (50), was killed by CPI-Maoist cadres at Kandhabuda village under Mathili Police Station of Malkangiri District. His bullet ridden body was located in the forest near Kandhabuda in the morning. A handwritten letter in the name of CPI-Maoist was found near the body. Through the letter Maoists alleged that the victim was a police informer for which he had been punished. The Maoist letter also alleged that Arjun was behind encounter between security forces and Maoist near Madkapadar panchayat in the past in which a Maoist cadre had been killed. According to sources this encounter had occurred around a year back. Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra reiterated that Arjun was a commoner having no links with Police.

There was an exchange of fire between the SOG troopers and CPI-Maoist cadres during a combing operation inside the Jugsaipatna Reserve Forest area in the Kalahandi District of Odisha. It was learnt that a Maoist team led by Odisha State Committee 'secretary' of CPI-Maoist, Modem Balkrishnan alias Manoj, managed to escape from the operation site inside the jungle. Police recovered large quantities of various items including kits, medicine stock, 24 detonators, one tiffin bomb and Maoist literature from the abandoned Maoist camp.

With reports of at least 50 CPI-Maoist cadres including 15 women holding a meeting in Khrusnachakragarh village within the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary limits in Angul District of Odisha, the combing operation continues in the area to flush out the Maoists. Locals said Maoists interacted with them and inquired about the problems they were facing in the village, which is located 30 km away from Angul town. The Maoists had dinner in the village and escaped into the forest late in the night. Similar reports were received from the villages of Kulsore, Pukunda and Manikjodi. Police have been carrying out combing for the last seven days following reports of Maoist presence in the sanctuary. Also, more SF has been deployed in Satkosia to take on the Maoists. In addition to IRB and SOG personnel, contingents of CRPF have been sent to the sanctuary for intensifying combing.

A CPI-Maoist woman cadre, identified as Sarada Sabar (38) alias Sukumari, who had gone underground since 2012 surrendered in Rayagada District of Odisha before the SP K. Siva Subramani. Earlier, she was a key armed cadre of Bansadhara Division of the CPI-Maoist while it was being led by Sabyasachi Panda, Uday and Azad. Several cases related to Maoist violence were pending against her who hailed from Pataguda village under Padmapur Police Station in Rayagada District.

An exchange of fire between SF personnel belonging to CoBRA battalion and CPI-Maoist cadres took place in a forest under Balimela Police limits in Malkangiri District of Odisha. No injury or casualty was reported from either side, said Police. "Our men spotted around 10 Maoists in Tumbapadar forest. They fired on seeing our men and we retaliated. The exchange of fire which started around 3 am continued for next 20 to 30 minutes," said deputy commandant S Kumar of the CoBRA unit stationed at Govindpally. "Unable to face our heavy firing the Maoists fled from the spot," he added. The SF personnel recovered a gun, three tiffin bombs, at least five pairs of uniforms, live wires, Maoist banners, poster and literature from the spot.

An 18 year old woman Maoist surrendered before of the Police in Jajpur District of Odisha. "The surrendered Maoist Namasi alias Sasmita Gundia (18) daughter of Madan Gundia of village Gokhata under Kalinganagar Police Station in Jajpur District . She was working under the leadership of another Maoist leader Sushil", said SP, Anup Sahoo.

A woman Maoist from Chhattisgarh, Jyoti Madkami alias Susmita, who had INR 400,000 reward on her head in Odisha surrendered before Police in Boudh District of Odisha. She was an ACM rank member of KKBN division of the CPI-Maoist.

37 persons, suspected to be Maoist elements, from Ralegada village of cut off area of Balimela reservoir under Chitrakonda Police Station in Malkangiri District of Odisha were rounded up by personnel of SOG. They were located inside the forest, while the SOG personnel were continuing combing operation basing on intelligence reports regarding a Maoist camp operating in the region.

Personnel of BSF unearthed a secret CPI-Maoist dump of arms and ammunition in Malkangiri District of Odisha. Acting on a tip off regarding presence of Maoists, BSF personnel had started a search operation in Pitakonda forest under Kalimela Police Station and seized the Maoist dump which included three SBML guns, two spare barrels of guns, one hand grenade, one magazine of AK-47 rifle, 18 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, five detonators, other things of Maoist use like their propaganda materials, clothes, medicines etc.

One hundred-and-fifty-six CPI-Maoist supporters including 25 militia members surrendered before the Police in Malkangiri District. They reached the Malkangiri District Police Headquarters to express their desire before Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. They were from remote Darvaguda and Bodliguda villages under Kalimela Police Station limits. There were 48 women and 28 children in this group. Eleven Maoists from Bodliguda, 14 from Darvaguda and one village committee member of CPI-Maoist from Darvaguda were part of this group of surrendering Maoist supporters.

CPI-Maoist cadres killed two villagers, identified as Suma Madakami and Rama Madhi, at Kanagoda area under Kalimela Police limits in Malkangiri District. According to sources, a group of Maoists raided the village and took them away in the night of October 14. Their bodies were found near the village next morning. The Maoists killed the duo suspecting them to be 'Police informers', the sources added.

SFs recovered two powerful tiffin bombs from Adava in Gajapati District. "The explosives, suspected to have been planted by the Maoists, were recovered from the Kattama-Baliganda route during a combing operation carried out jointly by the CRPF, the district voluntary force and police," said SP Satyajit Nayak. The two tiffins contained IEDs weighing 47 kg each.

CPI-Maoist cadres abducted two tribals from Mundaguda village under Mathili Police Station limits in Malkangiri District accusing them to be Police informers. According to Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, one of these abducted persons has returned on October 17. "After he reaches his home we would try to find out the reason behind his abduction," said the SP. Search is on to trace the other abducted person, he added.

Four Andhra Pradesh-based Maoists, allegedly involved in a number of crimes including abduction of IAS officer R. Vineel Krishna four years ago, were arrested by the Police from a forest in Malkangiri District. They were identified as Kera Shriramulu, K. Nageswar Rao, Banda Prasad and Jayasingh Bunjibabu.

The leader of the Malkangiri, Visakhapatnam and Koraput border division committee of the CPI-Maoist, Venu, lashed out at Malkangiri District SP Mitrabhanu Mahapatra for carrying out a false propaganda against the Maoists. He alleged that cops have been keeping arms and explosives in dumps only to take them out later and announce that they have unearthed Maoist dumps.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed one of the two abducted villagers in Malkangiri District, who were reportedly abducted from Mundaguda village under Mathili Police Station limits on October 16 night. Body of Dambaru Sagadia, one of two abducted villagers, was found with throat slit near the Kansariputa Chhak in the District.

CPI-Maoist cadres have yet again abducted another person in Malkangiri District. The victim, Bhima Podiami was a militia with the CPI-Maoist but had surrendered before Police in 2013. A group of 30 armed Maoists arrived at Gandhipadar village at around 11 pm and dragged Bhima out of his house at gun-point. Later, they took him to the nearby forest, sources said.

A tribal abducted by the CPI-Maoist cadres, was killed by the Maoists, under Mathili Police Station area of Malkangiri District of Odisha. The body of Bhima Padiami of Dandipadar village was located in the forest near the village. Bhima along with another tribal had been abducted from their homes by a group of around 25 armed Maoists from Dandipadar village on October 16. Maoists had accused Bhima to be a 'Police informer'. Bhima was a militia of Maoists in the past but had parted ways with the organisation and surrendered before the Police in 2013, sources said.

Acting on a tip-off, BSF personnel neutralised a gun factory of CPI-Maoist and seized huge amount of ammunition during the raid at Turukpadu-Motawalesa reserve forest in Pottangi of Koraput District. The seized ammunition included five country-made rifles, heat blower machine, drilling machine, live bullets and many more instruments.

At least 40 families of Kanaguda village under Kalimela Police Station in Malkangiri District are alleged to have left their village, due to threat and harassment by the cadres of CPI-Maoist. According to sources, during the past few weeks they were being terrorised by Maoists.

Fifteen CPI-Maoist supporters, including three militias, surrendered in Malkangiri District. All of them belong to remote Sangel village under Kalimela Police Station limits.

To strengthen road infrastructure in CPI-Maoist-infested Districts, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, sought Centre's help for early sanction of 24 road projects in Koraput and Malkangiri Districts. In a letter to UHM Rajnath Singh, the CM said lack of road connectivity has been identified as one of the major infrastructural deficiencies in the LWE Districts. "Improvement in connectivity will greatly help in reaching out to the remote areas and making various services available to the people living there," he noted in the letter. On August 19, the state government had submitted the plan with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for development of the road projects under phase-II of Road Requirement Plan (RRP), a scheme under MHA to boost connectivity to Maoist-hit Districts. "These roads are badly required for having proper access to the LWE areas," Naveen added. Of the 14 road projects sanctioned by the Centre under phase-I, six projects have already been completed while five projects are nearing completion. "The work on the bridge at Janbai that will connect 151 cut-off villages of Balimela reservoir is in full swing and will be completed within a year.

Police arrested two wanted CPI-Maoist cadres from Pagharpani jungle under Raighar Police Station in Nabarangpur District. The arrested Maoists were identified as Pundit Gond and Subedar Gond.

Residents of Kamnaguda village in Malkangiri District sought protection from the State Government, claiming that they felt harassed by Maoists and Police questioning. The members of about 40 tribal families met Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra and apprised him about their miseries.

Noting that Maoist menace was already subdued in Odisha, the state's new DGP, K.B. Singh said it would be further contained by stepping up development in affected areas and keeping youths from joining rebel outfits. "We have to work against Left Wing Extremism (LWE). In Odisha, Maoist activities are already subdued... put under check," Singh said. Maoist activities would be further checked by accelerating development activities in the affected areas and motivating youths against joining the red rebels. Efforts could also be taken for providing employment to youths in Maoist-hit areas, Singh said. Steps would be taken to make the force more responsive to the public, society and community, he added.

The SFs recovered huge volume of explosive materials from the CPI-Maoist stronghold at Narayanpatna and its neighbouring areas in Koraput District of Odisha during a search and combing operation.

Another team from the 120 Battalion of the BSF deployed at Podapadar came across a CPI-Maoist hideout in Mangalpur area where one claymore mine weighing six kg was recovered.

A unit of the 118 Battalion of the BSF carried out search operation in Badakarali and Sanakarali villages under Bandhugaon Police limits where they recovered 150 detonators, 51 gelatin sticks, raw materials for splinters and barrels for SBML guns.

Recovery of these explosive materials has foiled the plans of Maoists to attack the State forces and damage Government property, DIG, Intelligence of BSF JC Nayak said. "We have almost wiped out the Maoist base in the areas and those trying to regroup will not be allowed at any cost," Nayak added.

A Maoist was killed by SFs in Chandiposh forest near Rourkela in Sundargarh District of Odisha.

A CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in a gun battle with SFs in the ongoing combing operation in Chandiposh forest near Rourkela in Sundargarh District of Odisha. Acting on intelligence inputs, the SFs comprising of State Police, SOG and CRPF had started combing operations five days ago.

SFs recovered a huge cache of explosives from a Maoist camp in a forest within Sunabeda wildlife sanctuary in Nuapada District of Odisha. It includes 689 detonators, 10 tiffin bombs and a gun. This is the largest recovery of explosive materials in the past two years in Nuapada. The explosives were seized during a joint combing operation by the CRPF, SOG and DVF personnel in Patadahara forest.

Three villagers, including a village ward member, were allegedly killed in firing by SFs during a combing operation against LWEs in Karlapat forest in Odisha's Kalahandi District. The SF personnel fired upon villagers near Nishanguda village under the Bhawanipatna Sadar Police Station in the afternoon. Three persons died on the spot while two others were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital, Bhawanipatna. Three victims have been identified as Jayashankar Nayak, a ward member, Sukru Majhi and Jaya Majhi. Two injured were teenagers - Arjun Majhi and Jaya Majhi. "Personnel of the district police and the Special Operations Group began the anti-Maoist operation in the forest last Friday [November 13].

On November 15, Maoist rebels fired at the forces, who retaliated. In the meantime, villagers were caught in the cross-firing," Brijesh Kumar Rai, Kalahandi SP said. Rai said the villagers had gone to forest for hunting and they had unlicensed country-made guns.

The CPI-Maoist has called for a shutdown in three blocks of Kalahandi District on November 23 in protest against the police encounter in Karlapat forest on November 15 in which three villagers were killed and two minors were critically injured. The shutdown call was given by Umakant, 'secretary' of Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagabali committee of the CPI-Maoist in an audio clip released to the media.

A cache of explosives used by the CPI-Maoist was recovered by the BSF personnel during combing operations from Mediguda forest near Motu in Malkangiri District. The BSF personnel seized a three kilo tiffin bomb, six gelatin sticks, plastic bags, two detonators and other articles used by the Maoists.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested and explosive material seized when their camp was busted in Tekguda forest area of Malkangiri District. The arrested cadres were identified as Ramnath Madkami, Jaga Madhi, Waga Madkami and Suma. These four were members of the Kalimela armed squad of the CPI-Maoist. Apart from destroying the camp, the SFs also recovered 825 pieces of gelatin sticks weighing around 100 kg, Maoist uniforms, literature and other materials of Maoists' use from the spot.

A dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Maoists had its effect in three blocks of Kalahandi District. The Maoists had called the bandh to protest the killing of three civilians in a Police encounter in Karlapat forest region of Kalahandi District on November 15. The bandh had its impact in Thuamul Rampur, Lanjigarh and Kalahandi Sadar blocks of the District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres have killed a Naib Sarpanch of Bagdor panchayat under Belpara block in Balangir District. A leaflet left behind by the Maoists at the spot termed the Naib Sarpanch Alekh Majhi as a 'police informer'. Around six Maoists, including two women cadres, descended on Dhourakhaman village under Bagdor panchayat at night when the Naib Sarpanch along with his brother-in-law Kanjita Majhi was returning from their brick kiln located about 100 metres away. The Maoists took both to the outskirts of the village and assaulted them. Later, the Maoists dragged the duo to the centre of the village and held a Kangaroo court. They accused the Naib Sarpanch of being a 'Police informer', resorting to irregularities in distribution of PDS rice and demanding bribe from beneficiaries for houses under Indira Awas Yojna. After the hearing was over, the Maoists pronounced death for Majhi. They tied Majhi's hands and took him to the outskirts of the village where he was shot twice, leaving him dead.

A bandh call given by the CPI-Maoist in Dandakaranya region on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border disrupted normal life in Mathili block of Malkangiri District. The bandh was called by the Darbha division of the CPI-Maoist. This division also operates in parts of Malkangiri District bordering Chhattisgarh. According to Maoist posters put up in remote areas of Mathili block, the bandh was in protest against anti-Maoist operation and use of helicopters and drones for air strikes against the Maoists in Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas. As per reports, the Maoists dug roads and cut down trees to block roads in interior pockets of Mahupadar, Salim, Kumarpalli areas of Mathili block. Vehicular traffic was affected as passenger vehicles remained off the roads due to fear of Maoist violence. Shops also remained closed in interior pockets.

Reviewing anti-CPI-Maoist operations at Rourkela, CRPF DG Prakash Mishra said Maoist activities have increased in Kalahandi and Kandhamal Districts of Odisha as well as the Saranda forest areas of Odisha-Jharkhand border. He hinted that the situation has further aggravated. Talking to media after the review meeting, the CRPF DG said that more battalions of the CRPF to Odisha are not possible to allocate, but assured that the CRPF would provide all necessary helps to the State Government in a bid to curb the Maoist menace.

Posters, purportedly circulated by the CPI-Maoist, were found at Char Chhak near Maleikhaman village in Sohela block of Bargarh District. Police have seized all five posters written in Odia.

A large number of CPI-Maoist posters were found at different places in Gorumahisani and Jharpokharia areas in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha. Receiving information, Police seized posters from bus stands, waiting halls, anganwadi centres, panchayat offices besides, road culverts, electric poles and under-constructed buildings in 15 villages. The posters urged the youths to join the Maoist organisation.

The UMHA has prodded the Odisha Government to declare its anti-Maoist Special Intelligence Wing as a Police Station that would have powers to arrest and investigate. The UMHA also cited the example of the Andhra Pradesh anti-Maoist SIB which was declared a Police Station 2-3 years ago.

Ahead of the celebration of the PLGA Week by the CPI-Maoist, beginning December 2, Maoist banners and posters re-appeared in different parts of Balangir District in Odisha.

The Odisha HC granted conditional bail to Dandapani Mohanty, who was arrested on charges of having Maoist links.

Six cadres of CPI-Maoist were arrested from Rajalkonda forest in Malkangiri District of Odisha during a joint operation by the Odisha Police and BSF. Arrested Maoists were members of Malkangiri division of the CPI-Maoist. They were mostly active in Kalimela area of Malkangiri District for past eight to nine years.

CPI-Maoist posters were found in Phakeri, Nirgundi and Pasrshali villages under Kalyansinghpur Police station limits in Rayagada District. Through the posters, issued by Rayagada 'area committee' of the CPI-Maoist, Maoists urged people not to believe in promises of development of the region by the local Collector and SP. The Maoists also threatened villagers of dire consequences if they worked as 'police informers'.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik while speaking in the State Assembly has said that the CPI-Maoist situation is improving in Odisha as compared to some of its immediate neighbours. As of September, 2015 there have been 51 Maoist related incidents with 18 deaths of civilian and security personnel in the State, whereas there have been 346 incidents with 75 deaths in Chhattisgarh. He said Maoist activity and violence has substantially declined in Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundargarh and Nayagarh Districts. He also said 63 Maoist cadres/militias have surrendered in the state this year. Further, 1034 villagers, including many active militias and Village Committee Members of Malkangiri District have withdrawn their support to Maoists. To improve the law and order situation further, the State Government has created 1572 number of posts across various Police ranks.

The BSF personnel posted in CPI-Maoist infested Koraput District destroyed two Maoist camps in the last three days and arrested three supporters. BSF personnel started combing operations in the forests of Pottangi, Narayanpatna, Bandhugram and Sunki simultaneously and found two Maoist camps in Mangalpur forest under Narayanpatna block and Pilikabitra forest under Pottangi block. A large number of arms and ammunition seized from the camps include gun, pistol, claymore mines, live wires, gelatin sticks and Maoist literature. The Maoists camping in the two camps fled before BSF reached the spot.

Two of the three Maoist supporters were arrested in Tangini village of Pottangi block and one at Talabitra village in Koraput District.

The Maoists set ablaze a mobile tower at Kathargada village under Ramgiri Police Station limits in Koraput District. According to sources, over 20 armed Maoists came to the village at night, damaged the electrical gadgets of the mobile power station and later torched the tower. They also left a poster at the spot stating that their act was a mark of protest against the private company's efforts to spread mobile network in the area.

An encounter took place between the SFs and the CPI-Maoist cadres when the SFs raided a Maoist camp at Chutkei under Purunakote Police Station limits in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary of Angul District. "Following the exchange of fire, the Maoists fled. Wireless sets and other materials were seized from the camp. Combing operation has been intensified in the area under Purunakote Police Station," said Angul SP Rajesh Pandit.

263 civilians were killed in CPI-Maoist violence in Odisha since 1990 till December 8, 2015, CM Naveen Patnaik informed the State Assembly. In a written reply, the CM said there were allegations of 272 persons getting killed by the Maoists during this period. However, nine deaths turned out not by the LWEs, he added. The Government had provided compensation to 235 families as per the ex-gratia scheme of the government. Total 28 families did not get assistance due to want of required documents from the beneficiaries, he added. The CM further said 895 persons from Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada and Keonjhar Districts had left their villages due to Maoist activities. Of them, 287 returned to their villages in Koraput. He also said total five innocent persons were killed in the crossfire between SFs and Maoists in the State in 2015.

The AOBSZC of the CPI-Maoist has urged the local people to observe December 21 to 27 as a protest week against the proposed bauxite mining in the Visakha Agency. The committee has also announced that the AOB bandh will be observed on December 26. AOBSZC official 'spokesperson' Jagabandhu released a press note urging the people to form the Revolutionary People's Committees to "gain total ownership on jal (water), jangal (forest) and jameen (land), besides getting empowerment and a proper financial system for better livelihood".

The BSF seized huge cache of arms and explosives from a CPI-Maoist hideout in Bandhugaon area of Koraput District. The seized items included two SBML rifles, 14 kg of potash, electric detonator, 75 metre flex wire, 7 meter cordex wire, 24 cordex caps, a big knife, a big torch, batteries, steel and iron containers, medicines and a first aid box, apart from lots of explosive materials.

In a bid to bring youths in the CPI-Maoist affected districts to the mainstream, CM Naveen Patnaik demanded that the Centre should sanction one ITI and two SDCs in 14 Maoists affected Districts in the State. The institutes should be set up in Koraput, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh districts for making the youths a productive workforce through skill training, the CM stated in a letter to Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The CPI-Maoist cadres have blown up a private company mobile tower at Kalia Atali village under Baipariguda area of Koraput District. Maoist literature has been found from the spot.

CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze a mobile tower at Chipakur village under Boipariguda block in Koraput District, a day after the rebels damaged a mobile tower at Kalia Atal village in the block. Sources said, around 20 Maoists reached the mobile tower at Chipakur around midnight and poured kerosene before setting it on fire.

Without dwelling much into his report that was submitted to the State Government retired judge of Orissa HC Justice A. S. Naidu, heading the one-man panel to probe into the 2008-Kandhamal riots, has indicated the role of the CPI-Maoist in the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

Even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Government takes pride in pushing the CPI-Maoist on the backfoot in the State, the CPI-Maoist says it is former DGP Prakash Mishra who was instrumental in 'finishing off' the outfit in Odisha. The 'central committee' of the CPI-Maoist, which takes stock of progress of its movement across States, has recorded it in its proceedings during the October meeting. The 'central committee' report states that CPI-Maoist was weakened substantially after Sabyasachi Panda parted ways and created his own outfit in the State. The apex body described Panda as a 'fugitive' but acknowledged that his departure made a difference to party's organisation in the State. "However, it was DGP Prakash Mishra who finished the Maoist party in Odisha," it added. The Maoists said there has been an increasing presence of SFs in the area which is under the jurisdiction of AOB Special Zonal Committee. More area domination exercises are being carried out and the cut-off areas are being zeroed in on. The SFs are also striking the places where area commanders are leading the movement. In the last seven months, there has been 29 such raids by the SFs in the AOB zone of which 12 were in the cut-off areas which are hurting them, it added. In Narayanpatna, arrest of CMAS leader Nachika Linga also impacted the Maoist party's strength in the region and taking advantage of the situation, political leaders of the district, who preferred to stay in urban areas, are beginning to return. In some places, the lands which were taken away by the Maoists are again being grabbed by landlords. But the fight against them will start again, the party said in its meeting.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian, identified as S. Badnayak, brother of a former Sarpanch in Kudumulgumma Raba village area of Malkangiri District. The Maoists took him away from his residence and his body was found on December 26 morning with throat slit, a Police officer said.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a Sarpanch in Malkangiri District. A group of Maoists came to Badapada under Kuduguluguma block and forcibly took away Jayaram Khara on December 25. But villagers found the body of Khara near the village on Saturday morning with his throat slit. It is suspected that Maoists killed the Sarpanch branding him as a 'Police informer'.

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Manoj Dehury alias Madhab, of Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundargarh Division of the CPI-Maoist surrendered before Angul SP Rajesh Pandit. Police claimed Dehury said the Maoists recently chalked out a plan to create a corridor along the border of Angul, Boudh and Kandhamal up to Kalahandi District. He also told the Police that Maoists from Jharkhand are meting out step-motherly treatment to cadres from Odisha. They also sexually exploit local women cadres, he added. He said Purunakote, Bantala, Thakurgarh and Handapa in Angul District are safe haven for them.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik flagged off 30 more buses which will ply in the remote routes in four CPI-Maoist affected Districts under the Biju Gaon Gadi Yojana. The buses were rolled out at a function at OSRTC office in Bhubaneswar. The CM said the buses will ease communication on 28 routes in Nuapada, Deogarh, Sundargarh and Gajapati Districts. This is the third phase of the BGGY. In the first two phases, 57 buses were provided to Maoist-hit districts. CMD of OSRTC Sanjiv Marik said the buses have been launched especially in Maoist-affected for which the Government has allocated INR 210 million to the Corporation.