Malkangiri: While the government is on a mission to crush left wing extremism (LWE) threat, Maoists organised a ‘Praja Meli’ (Villagers Assembly) in a bid to mobilise public support in their favour.

According to sources, nearly three thousand tribal men and women congregated inside the Cheruberu forest in the cut off areas of Malkangiri district along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border following a call given by top Maoist commander Ora Nageswar Rao.

During the public gathering, Nageswar and his brigade delivered speeches urging the locals to join protests against police and its anti-Maoist operations and held discussions on drinking water, electricity and transportation. Thousands of tribals including women and youth brandishing traditional arms and weapons were seen at the ‘Praja Meli’.

Even as the government is saying that Maoist violence has drastically reduced in recent years, such congregation has raised quite a few questions.