Police recover land mines and detonators

Malkangiri, Orissa, Aug 11 (UNI) Police here today recovered three landmines and some live detonators near Motu suspected to be laid by the Maoists during the observation of ''Kranti week.'' The recovery of landmines came as a godsend for the administration busy in the relief and rescue operation in several marooned areas of the district in the recent floods.

According to reports, over two thousand tribal families of Motu, Kalimela, Padia were still marooned in the flood water of the Saveri, Sileru and China Godavari. The district administration had launched rescue and relief operation on war-footing in the naxal-affected areas.

However, the bad roads and washed away culverts had put difficult task for the district authority to reach the affected people.

Although the Maoists had also engaged themselves in the rescue and relief operation, the presence of armed Maoists and laying of landmines had prevented many government officials from visiting the naxalite-dominated pockets to assess the flood damages.

Meanwhile, the intelligence agencies had alerted the district administration about the presence of landmines in flood affected areas. The big haul of mines and detonators on last Thursday had caused panic among the officials engaged in the rescue and relief operation.

Police had recovered three landmines and detonators near Muruliguda, about 12 km from Motu. The cancellation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to Malkangiri had evoked widespread resentment among the flood-affected people, demanding a special package for Malkangiri.

UNI XC DP SJC VD RAI2130