February
16, 2008 Massive Manhunt to
Nab Maoists
after Terror Strike Kills 14
Bhubaneswar
Hundreds of policemen fanned out in various directions in Orissa
Saturday after suspected Maoists simultaneously attacked five police
establishments in Nayagarh district. Fourteen people were killed in
the well-coordinated strike that lasted for several hours.
"A combing operation is going on to nab the Maoists. We have
deployed about 600 policemen in the affected areas," Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik told journalists.
Rajesh Kumar, the Nayagarh district police chief, told IANS that
more than 500 armed Maoists simultaneously attacked three police
stations, a government armoury, a police training centre, and some
police posts.
A group of rebels, including some women guerrillas, attacked the
district police headquarter at Nayagarh, about 85 km from here, as
well as a nearby armoury and police training centre at about 10.30
p.m.
Other groups of Maoists barged into police stations at nearby
Daspalla and Nuagaon towns, attacked policemen and looted weapons,
Kumar said.
While the Maoist virtually laid siege on Nayagarh town for more than
three hours, they continued their attack in other places till early
Saturday. They also attacked two police outposts and set them on
fire, he said.
"They have looted a large quantity of arms and ammunitions during
their raids that continued for more than three hours," Kumar said.
He added that at least 14 people, including 13 policemen, were
killed during the shootout between policemen and Maoists. The 14th
victim was a civilian caught in the crossfire. Four people were
injured, two of them are said to be critical.
The rebels had also sealed all entry and exit points of the town to
prevent the movement of vehicles during their operation. They even
sealed the entry to the district police chief's residence.
The chief minister visited the affected area Saturday and met the
families of those killed.
Patnaik also announced compensation of Rs.1 million each for the
families of the policemen who were killed by armed rebels and
Rs.200,000 for the family of the civilian who died in the crossfire.
He also announced that the government would bear the medical
expenses of all the injured.
The state assembly was adjourned for two hours Saturday after the
Congress led opposition created a pandemonium, demanding the chief
minister's resignation.
Opposition members alleged that the law and order situation in the
state had worsened under Patnaik, who is also the home minister.
Gopal Chandra Nanda, Orissa director general of police, said: "We
had no prior information about this attack. Maoists were never
active in Nayagarh district."
However, he said the latest attack has not demoralised the police.
"This will make us stronger," Nanda said.
A home department official told IANS condition of anonymity that the
attack is suspected to be the handiwork of Maoist leader Sabysachi
Panda because he hailed from Nayagarh district.
He added that security has been beefed up across the state and the
police have sealed all exit routes.
"The Maoists might have escaped to the neighbouring districts of
Ganjam, Boudh, and Kandhamal and hundreds of policemen and
paramilitary forces have been sent there. Police have detained at
least a dozen people across the state for interrogation," the
official said.
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