Narayan Patana, the Lalgarh of Orissa

ORISSA’S KORAPUT district has been overrun by Naxal violence as the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has pledged support of the local tribals in the latter’s movement for land rights in Narayan Patna area. Under the banner of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, (Association of tribal farmers and labourers) the tribals were raising their voice against the Centre. As part of their demand for land, there have been attacks by the Sangha on non-tribal settlers in the region to force them to leave.

They have also captured the agricultural land of non-tribals and started to cultivate them. As a result, the entire Narayan Patna area has been captured by Naxals and the Sangha. Sivananda Ray, the vice president of the opposition claims that the administration does not seem concerned as their has been scarce action about it.

Orissa possesses well paid units of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Officer Group, armed police Force, a special striking Force and a Cobra Force to tackle terror outfits. Police department special branch and special intelligence wing are also working to provide movements of the naxal cadres. However, the government has failed to tackle the armed naxals in this remote district. Police stations and police out-post are mere witnesses of this violence. More than three hundred families have already left their village.

The Maoist organisation has tried to get local support by motivating the people about their problems. And their efforts seem to be succeeding in the creation of another Lalgarh. Locals support them as they are dejected over the failure of government’s welfare plans and programmes in the area, due to corruption by the bureaucracy and local leaders.
According to a reliable source, CPI (M) has started co-ordination among the three special zonal committees of hardcore Maoists. These committees are Andra-Orrisa-Bihar special zonal committee (AOBSZC), the Jhrkhand-Bihar-Orissa Special Zonal committee (JBOSZC) and the Orissa- West Bengal-Jharkhand Special Zonal Committee (OWJSZC).

While the first committee is responsible for all Maoist activities in southern Orissa districts like Malkanagiri, Koraput, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Raygada and Ganjam, the second works in the districts of Sundergarh and sambalpur. The third is spreading its activities in the jurisdiction of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.

While the government claims that they are carrying out search and combing operations, the ground reality says quite different. Narayan Patana is becoming the capital of the red corridor movements. Merinews