Village guards threaten to resign

Many 'gram rakhi's' who had assembled here yesterday claimed that though they are being targeted by the Maoists on charges of helping police, the government is not bothered about their safety.

"Maoists have killed several of our colleagues on charge of passing information about them to police. We work in very hostile condition but the government is not at all serious towards our demands which we had submitted to the administration on November 26," said president of Koraput Gram Rakhi Association Bedanta Harijan.

"We have assembled here to decide our next course of action and may resign en masse, if our demands are not fulfilled," he added.

The association is demanding financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to conduct the last rites, an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh, employment to a family member of 'gram rakhi' killed by Maoists and a hike in their monthly salary of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.