Odisha CM condemns Maoist attack on BSF Personnel

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has condemned Wednesday’s Maoist attack that left three BSF personnel and one civilian dead in the state’s Malkangiri district.

“My government strongly condemns the action of the CPI Maoists. Left wing extremism in some parts of the state continues to be a challenge. We stand resolute to eradicate this menace,” he said in a statement in the assembly.

He said there has been an extremist attack on the Border Security Force in Sarkubandha Reserve Forest area under Chitrakonda Police Station of the district in which three BSF personnel were killed.

Civilian Hari Khilla of Tatmamguda village was also killed in the attack. The chief minister announced Rs.5 lakh for the next of kin of Khilla. Under the existing provisions of the home affairs ministry, the family members of the martyrs shall receive Rs.15 lakh as ex-gratia and Rs.10 lakhs as insurance payout and liberalised family pension.

“The BSF has been doing yeoman service by providing security in the far flung and remote areas and the devoted jawans and the officer of BSF have our respect and admiration that they immensely deserve. I and my government salute the brave martyrs,” he said.

The chief minister said the Maoists ambushed a patrolling party of BSF with IEDs followed by firing from automatic rifles. “In the exchange, the three commandos laid down their lives and six commandos were injured. All the injured commandos have been shifted to Vizag for better treatment,” said Patnaik.

This ambush was targeted at the BSF with the intention to stall the construction of the Gurupriya bridge which will link the cut-off areas with the mainstream, said Patnaik.