Nayagarh: Some uncomfortable questions

NAYAGARH: As Nayagarh tries to cope with with memories of mayhem, people still wonder why the Maoists targeted this town. Several questions continue to haunt them, though it is more than a fortnight.

Nayagarh, otheriwse considered a peaceful region, is not amidst any industrial boom. There is no displacement or rehabilitation issue that the Left wing extremists can cash in on. Besides, the condition of tribals is also not very bad, which means the people cannot be easily swayed into the Maoist-fold.

If reports are to be believed, a week before the incident, a section of the media had reported of several meetings being held in Daspalla’s tribal pockets in the deep forests by suspected Maoists. Then why did the administration sit cool over it?

In fact, the administration had received warning signals of Maoist attack two years back too when the then collector had received an anonymous letter and the sub-jail superintendent had received a phone call in a similar fashion.

Yet another aspect that needs to be probed is that how could the ultras know that the Police Training School (PTS) and Police Reserve Barrack had received a consignment of sophisticated arms a few days before the incident and that 90 percent of its constable recruits were out on Assembly duty at Bhubaneswar on that day. Significantly, the ultras did not touch civilians.

The only civilian killed at Daspalla was unintentional. In fact, the Naxals proclaimed in public that they are not going to harm the common man.

But whatever be the motive, the incident has definitely pressed panic button and people in the district are apprehensive of another attack.