JOIN USThe naxal-affected Mujekanu region has been neglected again by the panchayats and district administration.
In 2003, a woman suspected to be a Maoist was injured during a police encounter in Idu in Karkala. It was later revealed that the woman was a native of Mujekanu in Kalasa gram panchayat limits. Her younger sister who went missing was also suspected to have joined the Maoists.
Mujekanu was identified as a naxal-affected village 15 years ago. Tribal communities were served notices to relocate from the reserve forest area.
To prevent naxals from luring tribals, the then Superintendent of Police Madhukar Shetty had held many meetings with villagers and sorted out issues. Soon, development works gained pace and two roads were built from Kalasa-Haluvalli-Horanadu connecting Majekanu.
But now, both the roads are in a bad shape and unfit for vehicles. Gravel which got exposed due to wear and tear, has turned out to be a nightmare for pedestrians and riders. School children going from Majekanu to Kalasa are the worst affected.
Owing to the pathetic condition of roads, vehicle riders demand Rs 3,000 per month to take children from home to school and back. Families having two children have to shell out Rs 6,000 every month. This is a huge burden, Anil Kumar, a local youth said.
Requests made to elected representatives and officials to repair the road have fallen on deaf ears. After Maoist activities were controlled, officials do not turn up at the village, people said. Even though funds were released to construct a 100-meter road, officials do not provide proper information on the project, residents charged.
Tribal leaders alleged that the funds meant for the development of infrastructure in tribal colonies had been misused.