Locals protest against Maoists stalling development work

Locals in Maoist-hit Narayanpatna block of Odisha's Koraput district have started protesting against the rebels for killing innocent tribals by branding them as police informers and stalling development work in the area.
Accusing the Maoists of misguiding the youths, the locals have raised their voice under the banner of Naxal Hinsa Prapidita Manch (NHPM) and highlighted the need for peace and speedy development of the backward region.
As part of their protest movement, a large number of local people, including children and the elderly, also took out a massive rally under the banner of NHPM at Narayanpatna on Monday and submitted a memorandum to the block development officer (Narayanpatna) Hemant Kumar Singh and SDPO (Laxmipur) Hemant Kumar Padhi addressed to the chief minister demanding quick development of the region.

"The Naxals are misguiding tribals and using them as a shield to execute their offensives. Development activities have been stalled in the area due to the presence of the Maoists," stated the memorandum.
According to the memorandum, capitalising on the remoteness and underdevelopment of the region, some outsiders are tring to misguide tribals of Narayanpatna for their own benefit. Innocent tribal are being killed on charges of being police informers.
While several villages in remote areas are without road, electricity, safe drinking water facility and healthcare facilities, Maoist violence have destroyed peace in the region, it said.