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Journalism of Courage
On the southern tip of Orissa and connecting the state to Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,Malkangiri district is today a Maoist base that is controlled by runaway Naxals from Andhra and serves as a safe haven for those of all three states.
The district,whose collector R Vineel Krishna was abducted on Wednesday,has emerged as a hub of Naxal activity for a number of reasons,including its topography and the absence of a strong enough security presence,but mainly because of its location at the junction of the three states.
One link still missing in the chain they seek is the border between Khammam and Dantewada,a region heavily policed and dotted with water bodies. For security forces trying to thwart their efforts,Khammam is a subject of constant concern because of the total area of control it can potentially give the Maoists.
In Malkangiri,the Eastern Ghats make the terrain rugged,dense forests make it inhospitable and sheer size provides countless options for hideout for fugitives from the two neighbouring states as well as Jharkhand.
Nearly 40 per cent of the 5,791-sq-km district comprises forests,with large areas now controlled by the disciplined and skilled Telugu cadres,who train here and whose central committee hold meetings frequently.
In June 2008,Malkangiri saw one of the worst ever attacks by Maoists when they ambushed a group of over 60 personnel of Andhra Pradesh Polices elite Greyhounds unit while they were crossing the Balimela reservoir by boat. The attack left 38 of the Greyhounds dead,shot or drowned.
Then last year,when Maoists in Chhattisgarh gunned down 76 policemen in Dantewada, Malkangiri served as a getaway. The Maoists are believed to have escaped to this district across the river Indravati.
In the last few months,Maoists have intensified their activities in Malkangiri and Koraput districts. They have been targeting government schools in Malkangiri and panchayat office buildings that serve as a place of rest for Border Security Force BSF jawans. In Koraput,they have made Narayanapatnam their transit camp from where there is easy access to Visakhapatnam.
The district has three BSF battalions and some units of the Special Operation Group Orissas anti-Maoist force and the District Voluntary Force,besides special police officers,but the area they have to police is simply too large. The district has a heli-base but it is redundant in the absence of a dedicated helicopter. Officials say three additional battalions of BSF are needed.
Led by top cadres of the Andhra-Orissa Border Zonal Committee,Maoists based in Malkangiri enjoy some local support,born out of fear.
Tribals constitute over 60 per cent of the population of Malkangiri,which is one of the most backward districts of the state despite being a beneficiary of funds that were pumped into the KBK Kalahandi,Bolangir,Koraput region. Malkangiri had been carved out of an undivided Koraput district.
Hostages freed,killed and still missing: A recap of some of the recent abductions carried out by Maoists in five states,and what happened to their hostages
Chhattisgarh
37 abductions in last 4 months,including cops,elected representatives,government employees and relatives. 9 killed,28 freed
September 19,2010: Maoists abduct seven security personnel from Bijapur,later kill two constables and an officer. An ASI and three constables in captivity till September 30,then released after negotiations.
January 25,2011: Five cops of Chhattisgarh Armed Force abducted from Narayanpur district. Released after 18 days; with govt suspending operations for 48 hours.
Orissa
January 25,2010: CITU leader Thomas Munda abducted during attack on SAIL-owned Kalta mines in Sundergarh district. Body found in Renjeda forest 4 days later.
July 7,2010: Assistant sub-inspector Umesh Chandra Marandi abducted from Keonjhar. Maoists made several demands but eventually released him on July 18 on humanitarian grounds.
September 29,2010: Sarpanch of a gram panchayat abducted in Koraput.
Jharkhand
September 30,2009: Special Branch Inspector Francis Induwar kidnapped from near Khunti. A week later,his beheaded body found near Ranchi.
February 13,2010: Block Development Officer kidnapped from near office at Dalbhumgarh,released after eight days.
Bihar
August 29,2010: Five policemen of Lakhisarai held hostage in Kajra jungles after encounter in which seven policemen killed. One hostage killed,rest freed on September 6 after govt assurance of safe passage.
August 29,2010: Taryani Sheohar BDO Manoj Kumar Singh abducted from a village. Released on September 1 after reportedly agreeing to meet certain demands.
West Bengal
July 20,2009: Sub-inspector Kanchan Garai and constable Sabir Mollah,stopping vehicle in front of a rally of thousands in Lalgarh,dragged away. No information on them since.
October 20,2009: Atindranath Dutta,police officer,abducted during a Maoist attack in West Midnapore where two other police officers killed. Later declared a prisoner of war by Maoists. After 48 hours of high drama,the government on October 22 releases 14 arrested women as demanded by Maoists,who then free the officer.
October 21,2011: Partho Biswas,inspector of SAP 13 battalion,and his schoolteacher friend Soumajeet Basu missing from Purulia. Govt blames Maoists,who deny abducting them. Both still missing.
