June 26: The eastern India state Orissa is now constantly facing Maoist rebellion in different parts of the state. Koraput, Malkangiri, Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts are the most affected ones and today Maoist has announced a two day long (26 th and 27 th) protest against the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy of both State and Central government. Termed as ‘Economic Blockade’, this may spread to other parts of the state.
Reportedly, the Maoist today in their starting day of protest has exploded a BSNL telephone tower in the Malkangiri district, though no casualty has been reported. Keeping in mind the extremist’s targets, the state police have arranged special security in all sensitive places.
Few days back Maoists had burnt a goods train engine in Koraput and also killed three villagers in the Tileibani Block of Deogarh. In another conflict between Maoists and Police, the district police of Dhenkanal had killed two extremists.
The Maoists in different parts of the state had appealed people to support their blockade agitation and come forward to demand rehabilitation for the people who have been displaced by the SEZ policy. The protest is gaining momentum in all the tribal dominated districts of Orissa.
Orissa government in its process of industrialization has permitted various indigenous and foreign companies to set up plants. Areas like Kasipur, Gopalpur and Kalinganagar are in the course of heavy industrialization. Government’s policy towards multinational companies (MNCs) in the name of SEZ has been strongly opposed by people and those extremists’ organizations as it resulted in displacement of thousands of families.
Police has arranged special security in Naxal-dominated districts especially at some of the railway stations that are believed to be attacked by Maoists. People are also warned to be careful in those areas as Maoists can trigger landmine blasts.
However, it is unfortunate that the state government has so far done nothing effective to stop those Left Wing extremists. Sometimes even Maoists attack police stations, take arms and return back to the jungle without facing resistance from the police. In last four years Maoists has expanded their base from southern to North-western districts and now in some parts of central Orissa. State government now needs to take a hard look at this.
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