Maoist mayhem: Naveen announces relief to affected families

BHUBANESWAR: Maoists have thrown up real challenge to the Naveen Patnaik government by targeting key communication installations and police officials while observing a week-long ���Martyrs Week��� that will come to end on August 3.

The ultras in the last 48 hours have caused sever damages to both government and private properties in many parts of the state and killed two security personnel.

Two security personnel, assistant sub-inspector Murali Bastia and home guard Haribandhu Mahanta of Bramanipal outpost in Keonjhar district, were gunned down near Baliparbat in Keonjhar district on Wednesday.

According to police, around eight to 10 suspected Maoists surrounded the victims during their evening walk. The Naxals first pumped a bullet into chest of the sub-inspector and latter hacked him to death. The home guard was attacked with sharp weapons.

Confirming the incident, chief minister Naveen Patnaik told in the Assembly that that ASI Bastia had suffered a gun shot wound and had also received injuries caused by sharp weapons. The home guard had received injuries caused by blunt object and also from sharp weapons.

Senior officers, led by the inspector general (operation) and the IG (Western Range) have proceeded to the spot. The district police along with the Special Operations Group (SOG) have started combing operations in the area, the chief minister said, adding, no posters, flags or any literature had been found at the site.

Condemning the ���cold-blooded��� murder of the two unarmed security personnel, the chief minister said it deserved the highest degree of condemnation.

���We shall take all possible steps to bring to book the perpetrators of this dastardly act,��� Mr Patnaik said.

The chief minister announced that the next of kin of the slain ASI will receive a special family pension equivalent to his last pay drawn till the date of his normal retirement. Besides, one family member will also get a government job. They will also receive ex-gratia as per the existing rules, he informed the House.

The next of kin of late killed home guard Mohanta will receive ex-gratia as per the existing rules. In addition, one of his family members will be engaged as a home guard. This is for the first time the Maoists have attacked and killed security personnel in the mineral-rich Keojhar district.

In Malkangiri, Kandhmal, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and some other districts, the Maoists have attacked contractors, police informers and destroyed as many as two mobile towers, causing panic among locals.