Maoist shadow over campaigning

BHUBANESWAR: Maoist presence may hit campaigning in parts of Balangir and Nuapada, going to polls on April 10.
Official sources said Red rebels are still active in Belpada, Patnagarh, Turekela and Khaprakhol blocks in Balangir district. No politician campaigned in these areas in the last panchayat election.
"These four blocks constitute 25% of the geographical area with a population of 3 lakh.There are roughly 1.80 lakh voters in the Maoists-hit areas of the district," said collector (Balangir) M Muthu Kumar.
Sources said workers of political parties are apprehensive about travelling to Maoist-dominated areas. "During last panchayat election, villagers warned me against campaigning in the area. Maoists had reportedly asked them to discourage workers from canvassing for candidates," revealed a worker.
In 2011, a woman Maoist cadre was killed at Sanbanjipali and BJD leader Raj Kishor Panda, who was the nominee of Balangir MP Kalikesh Singhdeo, shot in his home at Telenpali village. In 2012, MLA (Patnagarh) and BJP state president K V Singhdeo allegedly received two threat calls from the rebels.
"If political parties intimate us about their campaign schedules in the sensitive areas and seek security, we will provide the same according to availability of force," said SP (Balangir) R Prakash.
Senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra said police should provide adequate security in the district. "I don't think campaigning will be hit in the Maoist-dominated areas. But some politicians are apprehensive," he said.
In Nuapada, all the five blocks have Maoist presence with Komna block being the worst-hit. "About 35 to 40% of the district has been witnessing Maoist violence. The Sunabeda sanctuary is a stronghold of the Left-wing extremists," said collector (Nuapada) Jaya Kumar V.
According to sources, Maoists ransacked the range office at Cherechua in the district on 23 May, 2009, with an aim to set up base there. In the last five years, they have spread their tentacles to most parts of the district.
"During 2009 elections, we couldn't launch campaign in many parts of Nuapada. It's going to be the same this year," said MLA (Nuapada) Rajendra Dholakia.