Published On: Fri, Nov 22nd, 2024

Boatman Killed in Security Forces and Maoists Crossfire in Malkangiri District | Bhubaneswar News



Koraput: A boatman, Enka Sunani, from Metaguda village was killed during an exchange of fire between security personnel and Maoists near Saberi riverbank at Jaelguda under MV-79 police limits in Malkangiri district Thursday. While police claimed that Sunani was a Maoist sympathiser, villagers and family members refuted the allegation, stating that he was forcibly taken by Maoists to ferry them across the river.
According to villagers who gathered at the SP office in Malkangiri on Friday, a group of Maoists arrived at Sunani’s house around midnight on Wednesday. They allegedly threatened him to ferry them across the Saberi river after learning that he was responsible for operating the ferry at Dongaghat under a lease. Under duress, Sunani and two of his associates accompanied the Maoists and completed the crossing, the villagers said.
“After ferrying the Maoists, they left for the forest. While Enka and his two associates were returning, security forces intercepted them near the ferry point for questioning. At that moment, Maoists opened fire from the forest,” said one of Sunani’s relatives.
In the chaos that followed, security personnel attempted to protect the three villagers by asking them to lie down. However, Sunani and a jawan were struck by bullets while trying to take cover behind a tree. Sunani died on the spot, and the jawan sustained severe injuries and was air-lifted to Visakhapatnam for treatment.
Additional superintend of police (Malkangiri) Tapan Rath maintained that Sunani was a Maoist sympathiser who assisted the group in crossing the Saberi river. “There were around 50 Maoists, and Sunani made eight trips to ferry them into Odisha. He was killed during the exchange of fire, and his body has been handed over to his family,” said Rath. Police stated that Maoist articles and arms were recovered from the encounter site.
Sunani, who operated the ferry service to sustain his family, left behind a wife and six children. His wife, overwhelmed by grief, is reportedly in a state of unconsciousness, while villagers expressed concern about the family’s future. The villagers called for govt intervention to provide financial support to the bereaved family, noting that Sunani’s death left them in despair.





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