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Naxalites gun down BJP politician in southern Orissa

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

Armed men, suspected to belong to the People's War group of the Communist Party of India, Marxist-Leninist, gunned down a Bharatiya Janata Party politician in Rayagada district of southern Orissa, bordering Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday.

According to the district police, Madhab Sabar, a former member of the Narayanpur village council under Padampur block, was busy with his daily chores when the Naxalites entered his house, dragged him out and shot him dead.

The district administration has sounded an alert following the murder.

A fortnight ago, suspected Naxalites had killed a politician of the Socialist Unity Centre of India in Malkangiri district of southern Orissa.

Rayagada Superintendent of Police Y K Jethwa said the Kui Labenga Sangha, a frontal organisation of the PWG, was suspected to have killed Sabar.

PWG activists have been active in Rayagada for the last few years. "They are using Rayagada as a safe haven after creating trouble in the neighbouring districts of Andhra Pradesh," police sources said.

The killing of two leaders of different political parties within a fortnight has shocked the district administration as well as the people.

But the state government is yet to formulate a clear-cut strategy or set up a properly trained special police force to combat the growing Naxalite threat.

A few months ago, senior BJP politician Arabind Dhali, who hails from Malkangir and is a member of Naveen Patnaik's Cabinet, was threatened by Naxalites. Dhali is believed to be on the Naxalite hit list.

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