Date:05/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110553570300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Naxalite held

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Narayanpatna block in Koraput district is becoming a major hub of the ‘Red Corridor’ of Maoists.

Interrogation of Khena Mandal, a cadre of the newly-formed ‘Machkund Dalam’ of naxals, who was arrested by Koraput police, has made some startling revelations.

Koraput Superintendent of Police Dipak Kumar held a press conference in Jeypore to brief the recent arrest. Khena was arrested from Rengagaon village of Langalbeda panchayat under Narayanapatna police station. He was a resident of MPV 123 village of Balimela police station area of Malkangiri district. He was allegedly involved in the murder of one Mukunda Madhi in Malkangiri district and murder of T. Bijay Kumar at Santalmunda village of Narayanpatna block. It was suspected that he was serving as a courier and a major communication link of the naxals operating in areas of East Godavari, rural Vizag, Koraput and Malkangiri.

The SP said that ammonium nitrate was stolen from two trucks travelling from Hyderabad to NALCO unit at Damanjodi in Orissa. It was suspected that some of this explosive chemical may have reached Narayanpatna area. The drivers of the trucks were being interrogated. Investigation is on to find out the cargo that was transported by Khena from Andhra Pradesh to Orissa and the receivers of the material.