Giving lift to SoG jawans costs them dearly

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/01/24/stories/2010012455590300.htm)
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Giving lift to SoG jawans costs them dearly


Sib Kumar Das



Maoist start targeting common citizens and civilian establishments in the State



Maoists are trying to keep hi-tech equipment out of reach of common people They have also damaged school buildings Sundergarh and Malkangiri districts


BERHAMPUR: The killing of four civilians including two women in the landmine blast in Narayanpatna block of Koraput district hints that Maoists have started targeting common citizens and civilian establishments in the State in a planned manner to spread their reign of terror.
The innocent victims of the landmine blast had to face the wrath of naxals as they had agreed to provide lift to some jawans of the Special Operation Group (SOG) in their vehicle. The activities of naxals in recent past have proved that they have started targeting civilians and civilian targets like schools, hospitals, telecommunication network, and road communication.
On December 27 night they had burnt down four buses of Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) buses at Raipanka in Gajapati district. The terrorised passengers of the vehicles including women and children had to suffer inside remote jungle in the cold throughout the night. In Sundergarh and Malkangiri districts Maoists have destroyed school building with the plea that these buildings are used as camping sites for policemen during anti-naxal operations. Hospitals in some remote areas of Sundargarh district were also blasted by Maoists for same ‘absurd’ reason. Buildings of panchayat bodies are also not being spared. In naxal infested districts Maoists are trying to keep modern telecommunication out of reach of common people by blasting mobile towers and terrorising the construction firms involved in road construction.
According to a senior police officer Maoists have resorted to this attack on civilians and civilian destinations as part of a specific strategy.
They feel the civilians should remain complete detached from the police and administration out of fear. It is thought to be their plan before the proposed major joint operation against naxals in Orissa and its adjoining states.
They want their terror to loom in the minds of civilians so that police force during their anti-Maoist operations do not get support and help from civilians and civilian establishments. Saturday’s landmine blast was an effort to nail in this panic in the minds of common citizens. “The irony is that civil activists of the State are yet to come out to protest these violent activities of naxals against common citizens,” alleged a senior police officer of south Orissa.






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