Maoists fear forces policemen to quit their jobs in Orissa

Koratput (Orissa), July 18 (ANI): Frightened by the brutal killing of their colleagues, policemen posted in Maoist dominated Orissa's Koraput District have resigned from their jobs.

The rebels threatened police officials and asked them to leave their jobs and depart from the area. They also warned the policemen of dire consequences if they failed to obey them.

The rebels have stepped up their efforts against the government as well as the locals, as various locals complained that Maoist activities such as killings and abductions have increased considerably in the area.

Fearing threat to their lives, five policemen attached to Machkund police station, sent their resignation letters to the officer in charge of the police station and the district Superintendent of Police (SP) earlier this month.

"On Thursday, 7th July (2011), one of our home guard and constable were on duty. The Maoists killed both of them. This incident scared other policemen. We are small employees and nobody is there to help us or protect us, so we decided to quit the job," said Jagannath Khinbudi, a former policeman.

"When IPS and IAS officials are kidnapped, then the government is taking action, but for us nobody is there to help and no action is taken," he added.

The two policemen, one home guard and one constable of Machkund police station, were shot dead by armed Maoists.

According to certain reports, Maoists are facing a shortage of personnel in several areas, as efforts are being taken by the state and central security forces to curtail the insurgency.

So, the ultras are threatening people to refrain from joining police force or to have any links with the police and administration.

Rabindra Nath Sahu, another policeman who has resigned, accused the government and his department of doing little to protect the lives of policemen, deployed in the Maoist-dominated districts.

"The Maoists threatened us and asked us to quit our job when we joined the police station. We have resigned from our job due to the fear of Maoists, my family members also asked me to leave this job, so I left it," said Sahu.

"We are not getting any security from the government's side; no help is being given. Policemen are neither safe in the police station nor when they are on rounds in the area," he added.

Despite strong measures taken by the Central Government in eradicating the ultras, Maoist insurgency has spread into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.

Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. (ANI)