Odisha Maoists call upon tribals to boycott LS polls

Maoists operating in the two tribal-dominated Odisha districts of Koraput and Rayagara have called upon the local tribals to boycott the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.

Banners and posters in this regard were found in villages under Kalyansinghpur block of Rayagara district on Saturday. Describing all political parties as anti-poor, the posters also urged the tribals not to allow the politicians to enter their villages for campaigning. The police have intensified search and combing operation in the area after the posters and banners surfaced, sources in the state home department here said.

Just a few days back, similar posters and banners were recovered from Majhiguda and Dasmantpur Panchayats of the neighbouring Koraput district. The prestigious Koraput Lok Sabha constituency where polls are scheduled for April 10 consists of Assembly segments located both in Koraput and Rayagara districts, known as extremely Maoist-infested areas.

The Odisha government has already sought from the Centre 25 additional companies of Central forces which will be deployed in the Maoist-affected districts during the twin polls.

Ten Lok Sabha constituencies and 70 Assembly segments under them will go to polls in the first phase on April 10 of which as many as eight Lok Sabha constituencies are known as Maoist infested. Prominent among them are Koraput, Nowrangpur, Sundergarh, Bargarh and Kandhamal.