Six villagers, infant die in exchange of fire between Maoists and police

BHUBANESHWAR: Six villagers including a two year old child were killed in what police claims was an exchange of fire between them and Moists.

Locals disputing this claim, gheraoed the combined force for hours, and continued their protest against the killing of innocents, blocking the Rayagada- Phulbani state highway on Saturday.

The five were travelling from Kuttamagarh to their village Mugudumaha in an autorikshaw on Friday night when they were killed near Gumurmaha village under the Tumudibandha block. The dead included two women. Four others shot at are being treated at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

As activists accused the anti-maoist forces of killing innocent tribals, Naveen Patnaik ordered a judicial probe and quickly announced an ex-gratia Rs 5 lakh for each deceased and a job for a family member.

Personnel from the CRPF, Special Operations Group and District Voluntary Force have been carrying out anti-maoist combing in Odisha's Kandhamal and other affected southern districts. The police claimed they had been sounded off about “Maoists” traveling in an autorickshaw.

The killing has comes as a rude reminder of Odisha’s Maoist problem, one which Patnaik’s government claims is on the wane. Opposition leaders such as Odisha Pradesh Congress committee vice-president Pradeep Majhi have hit out at the government for its "anti-tribal" campaign under the guise of anti-Maoist exercise.