increase, the government decided to reinforce the older police stations and construct new ones at strategic locations. In all four new police stations were under construction at Chitrakonda, MV-79, Jamubai and Jodamba while two police stations at Mottu and Kalimela were being upgraded and fortified.
Malkangiri district is truly a mythical land wedged between Sileru /Macchkund rivers in the southeast and by Sabari/Kolab in the northwest. Malkangiri is also a part of Dandakaranya which covers vast area of Chhattisgarh (Bastar district) and that of Koraput, Nawarangpur and Malkangiri of Odisha. To the south and east of Sileru river is Andhra Pradesh. However, there is a large tract of cut off area beyond Balimela reservoir comprising of 51 villages. There is no road communication and one has to negotiate crossing vast distances by boat over the reservoir and river. Hence the OPHC was constructing full fledged police stations with provisions for barracks for accommodation of one company of armed forces with regular fencing and lighting for security work at village Jamubai and Jodamba. One can only reach these two places by motor launch by cruising Balimela reservoir. Jamubai is 22 km while Jodamba is 37 km by boat.
I reached Chitrakonda with my staff and camped for the night. One platoon of armed Gorkha force was there to guard the Irrigation Bungalow. Some of them had undergone special combat training and were known as Greyhound Force. There is dense forest and hillock right in front and side of the bungalow and it is quite vulnerable from attack of naxals. The next morning we left by motorboat with one section of armed force. The motor launch was big enough to accommodate at least 20 people on board. Such precaution was highly essential in view of a recent attack and ransacking of Mottu police station by the naxalites.
The motor launch was powered by diesel engine (on board). From Chitrakonda it takes three hours to reach Jamubai village. The scenery was simply breathtaking. Balimela reservoir is about 40 km in length and 15 km to 10 km in width on an average. Concrete dam at Chitrakonda and supported by several km of earthen dyke has created a deep reservoir abounding in fish, crocodiles and other aquatic creatures. Apart from deep dark blue waters, several small islands (virtually submerged hillocks) which are lush green dot the reservoir. With a blue canopy on top and bright morning sun shinning and reflecting every dew drop on fresh green of the islands, the sight was a veritable heavenly paradise.
But though everything seems at peace, truth is far from it. The land of Sileru and Saberi is under siege. However, good black top roads connect Mottu from Jeypore via the district headquarter town of Malkangiri. Roads are unsafe because of land mines and frequent ambush by extremists.
The motor boat took its time navigating through the reservoir and through a branch of river channel, avoiding its southern bank to reach our destination. We had breakfast on board itself. From the bank our camp where police stations/barracks are under construction is 4 km. We had to trek all the distance with security forces throwing a cordon around us.
We had to trek back to our boat in a hurry since we had a long distance to go. It was around 10 am; we left Jamubai and headed towards We entered the reservoir and sailed for 10 km and again entered another river which merges with the reservoir. Around 1 pm we reached the shores and anchored. Here also a long trek of 3.5 km awaited us. On reaching the campsite, I was relieved to find that already one platoon of armed force are camping. They knew about our arrival and had prepared a simple meal of rice, dalma and achar for us. After a tiring, hectic walk we simply gorged in the hot meal and relished every bit of it. Thereafter I had to go into every detail of construction work. Some problems were solved on the spot. We had to ensure timely and prompt despatch of construction materials to the site. Similarly the Subedars and Jamadars of our armed forces were assured and comforted with promise of advising their commandants for timely despatch of their ration of food, kerosene, torch cells, medicines and other needs for the camp. As there is no electricity provisions are being made for power generators. It was now 4 pm and I could feel a sense of urgency and unease among our staff. Hence we returned to the boat and before dusk we tried to clear the narrow creek.
The Subedar advised us to lay anchor at least beyond 100 metres from the bank. As there was no night navigator's facility we agreed and had to stop in the middle of the reservoir. Here it is hardly two to three hundred metres in width. Soon darkness engulfed us and the entire region was plunged into an eerie silence. Silence was occasionally punctuated by splash of large fish as well as that of crocking frogs. The stars and planets were as if competing with each other to sparkle more brightly and give us some solace and comfort by removing some darkness. There was no moon. The half moon showed up only after 11 in the night as it was six days past full moon.
The motor launch driver and his staff got busy with preparations for dinner for all of us. Armed sentry was mounted. As our activities slowly stopped eerie silence again descended. Pale moon peeped through the tree canopy of the hill ranges. On the surface everything seemed calm and at peace. I was sleepy and plunged into deep slumber.
The naxalites of Odisha (Kalimela Dalam) were joined by Chhattisgarh Dalams and about 50 armed ultras had raided the Mottu police station resulting in death of one Havildar and two Sepoys of our armed force apart from looting of arms and ammunitions earlier.
The location of Mottu is extremely vulnerable. It is at the confluence of Sileru and Sabari rivers at the southernmost tip of Odisha in Malkangiri district. This is also known as mini sangam. The naxalites of Andhra and that of Chhattisgarh very conveniently target the region at their will. Regular reports of their movements in Malkangiri districts were coming in as they were sighted by villagers. We had overcome the initial shock. I was only apprehensive of the fact that the encounter and exchange of fire was quite close. Hearing gun shots the sentry alerted us and lights were switched off. By then I was fully awake and dressed up.
We could hear unmistakable sound of automatic weapon firing in the distance. There was lull at times and then again staccato sounds of automatic weapon resounded. The time was a around 4 am in the dawn. Firing sound completely stopped by the cold morning. Mist was lazily flowing on the water surface and making efforts to rise. Some local bids as well as migratory birds had become active. A couple of small fishing dinghies could be noticed as the fishermen were casting their nets. Here large number of Bengali refugees have been settled, who take to fishing as their first priority of earning livelihood.
As I was finishing my tea, we noticed a group of armed men assembled on the southern bank. They were Greyhound force on patrol. This force led by one Jamadar with one section (10) men had come across a group of naxalites in course of their combing operation. They had prior information about camping of naxalites on the Andhra-Odisha border. To flush them out, they raided their camp and had exchange of gunfire in the wee hours. We took our boat to the bank and learnt about the above developments. They were offered tea and biscuits which they happily accepted and left the place for their destination.
Similar encounters have become common – our armed forces have also faced several such ambush and encounters. I visited and organised reinforcement of the police station building and barrack. During my stay at MV79 police station too, we were virtually being encircled by naxalites, posing as villagers as it was a weekly market (haat) day. As this happened during day hour we could wriggle out of the tight situation. They have been targeting senior officers so that they can have leverage and bargaining power for release of their colleagues from prisons. Extra precaution for protection of seniors was needed. But as I was posted as CMD of OPHC operation I had the liberty to move about more freely compared to my uniformed colleagues. I became more careful after my visits to Kalimela and Malkangiri. I was camping for the night in the bungalow when the naxalites had opened fire but retreated only after our forces retaliated. I am narrating the few such instances which I experienced personally. This is enough to deter many from visiting the interiors of Malkangiri on duty.
This is why many officers avoid going to the area. Officers posted in the district find out 101 reasons to avoid going there. Many posts in the blocks, schools, primary health centres, and livestock centres even in forests and other revenue establishments are lying vacant. This has resulted in collapse of administration.
This district is inhabited basically by tribals like Bondas, Gadabas, Kondhs, Parajas, Kharias etc. Although a tribal dominated district, it has been neglected by administration. Another bone of contention is settling of Bangladeshi refugees who have been allotted land and given other benefits like subsidy in food grains, seeds and other activities. The tribals are aggrieved. This is a fertile ground where the ultras or the naxalites have an edge. They motivate the tribal youths to join them with promise of getting justice and all kinds of benefits so long denied to them. The naxalites are virtually running a parallel administration. They have their own justice system and hold regular Prajakotes to hear grievances and render justice.
Sileru and Saberi remind us of mythical land of Ramayan days. This is the heart of Dandakaranya where Tamasha River flows and merges with Sileru. This is the river bordering which stands the Bonda hills. High above the hills live the oldest tribe, unique in their culture, society and various religious practices, known as the Bonda tribe. Mythology says during the 14 year banishment of King Rama and Queen Sita they had stayed here for some time. Once while Queen Sita was bathing in the river Tamasha, she was being observed by Bonda women. This was noticed by Sita who cursed them to shave their heads and wear loin cloth only. However to cover their top they wear heavy necklaces of beads. Fortunately the Bondas have not been affected by naxal movements so far. A new police station has been constructed at Kudulumguma.
In brief we can say that a beautiful land has been slowly turned into a den of ultras where the officials and administration fear to tread. Peace and tranquility of Sileru and Saberi is shattered. Normal visitor or tourists avoid the land for fear of naxals as the roads are mined by landmines. Although their target is police and administration yet the common man is apprehensive of going into the interior. A land which could have been a tourist's paradise due to its savage beauty has been converted to a place to fear.
However, we may only pray and expect that this land will get back its peace and serenity soon.
|
