Odisha Ministers Visit Malkangiri Amid Violence, Internet Ban Extended for 12 Hours

Image Source: Internet

Odisha's Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo and MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallick visited the violence-hit Malkangiri district on Thursday to review the situation. The administration has extended the suspension of internet services by another 12 hours due to the ongoing unrest. The clash between tribal and Bengali settlers erupted at MV-26 village after a tribal woman's headless body was found on December 4. The tribals suspected that a man from MV-26 village was involved, leading to the violence. Singh Deo met with representatives of the Malkangiri Bengali Samaj and District Adivasi Samaj Mahasangh, who submitted a memorandum to the DyCM. Both groups have demanded a high-level inquiry into the violence and the murder case, as well as the arrest of the culprits. The Malkangiri Bengali Samaj alleged that attacks on them were made by influential people, and that their houses were damaged and torched by the mob. They also demanded that the government provide seeds, fertilisers, and necessary items for the upcoming season. On the other hand, the tribals claimed that their lands are being forcibly encroached by non-tribals, and that the government should evict Bangladeshi infiltrators from the area. The District Adivasi Samahaj Mahasangh demanded that the family of the deceased tribal woman be given land rights over the land where she was killed. The police have arrested one man from MV-26 village who allegedly killed the tribal woman. Over 300 people from MV-26 have returned to their homes, and a large contingent of BSF jawans and Odisha Armed Police Force personnel have been deployed in the area. The opposition BJD has constituted a fact-finding team to visit the affected areas and submit a report to the party president.