Maoists kill man during strike in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - A 22-year old man was killed by Maoists Monday in Orissa’s Malkangiri district during a one-day strike called by the guerrillas, police said.

About 20-30 rebels dragged Dama Madakami from his home at Salimarikonda village, some 680 kms from state capital Bhubaneswar, and slit his throat, inspector in charge of the local Kalimala police station Debashis Mishra told IANS.

Before leaving, the rebels left behind a leaflet which said Madakami was killed because he was a police informer, he added.

The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has called for the strike Monday in Malkangiri and parts of Koraput district after four of their cadres were gunned down by police Nov 4.

The incident took place in Karlakuta village of Malkangiri, about 600 km from here. Maoists have claimed that the four killed were innocent villagers.

The strike saw buses staying off the roads and shops downing shutters in both the districts. “Both private and government bus operators kept their vehicles off the roads as a preventive measure,” a senior police officer told IANS.

“Fearing attacks, shops have also downed their shutters in several places,” he said.

“Security has been beefed up across the region. Additional forces have been deployed in strategic locations. No untoward incidents have been reported from any places so far,” he added.