Poster War Between Maoists & Tribals Heats Up In Odisha’s Malkangiri

Malkangiri: The hostility between Maoists and the tribal villagers at Janturai in the cut-off area of Malkangiri district has intensified.

According to reports, the left-wing ultras of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee have put up posters at several places in Jodamba and Panasput panchayat areas, warning tribals against cooperating with police.

The posters came up after villagers at Janturai lynched a Maoist, Ganga Madhi, and injured another ultra, Jipra Hatrika, recently. The posters alleged that police were behind the incident and also warned that they will kill four tribals — Chaitanya, Gobinda, Manu and Prallhad — for their involvement.

On the other hand, the Malkangiri Adivasi Bikash Parishad  (a tribal body) and several NGOs have also put up posters in Jodamba and Panasput panchayat areas in protest against Maoist activities.

Terming the Maoists as anti-national and anti-people, they said that these ultras didn’t want development in the cut-off areas as they oppose the construction of roads and set vehicles on fire.

The tribal body has urged villagers not to get panicked by the Maoist threat and cooperate with the administration for development works in their villages.