Maoists blow up schools and hospitals in Sundergarh district

BHUBANESWAR: Suspected Maoist guerrillas on Wednesday struck in several tribal-dominated villages in Sundergarh district, nearly 600 km from here, blowing up four schools and one hospital there.

Officials said nearly 300 armed ultras including women cadre raided one after another village under K. Balang police station and razed to ground all these schools and the hospital by using powerful landmines apparently as retaliation to the resistance put up by the locals against them.

“While two schools and one community health centre in Jharabeda village were exploded, one school each in Sunaballijore and Mahupada were completed destroyed,” Rourkela superintendent of police Diptesh Patnaik said.

“We received reports of the rebels planting landmines at some places in and around these villages,” a senior police officer said.

“Enforcements are being rushed to the area. I will personally camp in the area till the Maoists are flushed out,” Mr Patnaik added.

Official sources said the Maoists have split into groups and surrounded five villages - Mahupada, Jharabeda, Sunaballijore, Rehulta and Langapada. All these villages have completely been deserted by the local residents since Tuesday for fear of Maoist attack soon after the withdrawal of CRPF from the area.

Around 3000 tribals including women and children trekked throughout night to reach K. Balang, nearly 40 km from their respective villages, on Wednesday morning. The local administration arranged food and temporary shelter for them. They refused to return to their villages until adequate security forces were deployed in the area.