Maoists sink Greyhounds motorboat in Orissa, 40 feared dead

DEBABRATA MOHANTY

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 29 Striking in a big way against securitymen engaged in combing operations, Maoists in Orissa’s Malkangiri district today attacked and sank a motorboat carrying mostly personnel of the Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxalite force of Andhra Pradesh. At least 40 people are feared dead.

The motorboat, carrying 62 policemen and two boat operators, was on its way across the Balimela reservoir from Chitrakonda for a joint operation against the Maoists when it came under heavy gunfire from atop a nearby hill in Alampetta village. Chitrakonda borders Andhra Pradesh.

Orissa Home Secretary T K Mishra told The Indian Express that 59 of the policemen were from the elite Greyhounds force and had been combing the porous Andhra-Orissa border along with the Orissa police and CRPF since last week. The team was to return to Andhra Pradesh after completion of the operation.

“Exact details are not known, but the motorboat capsized soon after the Maoists started firing. A massive search and rescue operation is on,” Mishra said, adding that the attack took place just before noon.

Malkangiri SP Satish Kumar Gajbhiye said though there was an exchange of fire between the Maoists and the policemen, the rebels could successfully capsize the boat by targeting its operator. “The ultras had an advantage as they were atop the hill and the jawans in deep water,” he said.

Until evening, Gajbhiye said, 25 people had either been rescued or had managed to swim to safety. Of them, six were injured, four of them critically. Two helicopters sent by Andhra Pradesh were engaged in search-and-rescue operations though officials said chances of survival were remote.

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Maoists sink Greyhounds motorboat in Orissa, 40 feared dead

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