Maoist Posters Pay Tributes To Killed Cadres, Spark Panic In Odisha’s Kalahandi

Bhawanipatna: Almost 90 days after three Maoists were gunned down in an encounter Odisha’s Kalahandi district, the banned outfit has pasted posters paying tributes to its slain activists, sparking tension in the area.

The posters, released by Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the Maoists, were found pasted at various spots on the main road of Taparang village under Madanpur-Rampur block of the district in the morning.

In the posters, the Maoists paid tributes to their three cadres who were gunned down by police near Tapareng-Ludengarh reserve forest under M Rampur police station on May 9. The posters carried the photographs of the killed Maoists.

The banned outfit also condemned the “barbaric act” of the police and said one of the victims, Lalit, was married a week back. The posters briefly mentioned the life and ‘achievements’ of the three Maoists.

Stating that the encounter was aimed at killing innocent people of the area, the Maoists appealed to the people to make their bandh call on Sunday successful.

It may be noted that the encounter took place in the forest when police personnel found some Maoists during a combing operation in the area. On being challenged, the police team retaliated and three Maoists were shot dead during the fierce exchange of fire.