Odisha: Journalist dies in IED blast in Kalahandi district ahead of rural polls

BHUBANESWAR: A journalist died in an IED (improvised explosive device) blast in Kalahandi district around noon on Saturday while trying to take photograph of a Maoist poster, which appealed people to boycott the upcoming panchayat elections in Odisha. Such Maoists posters have surfaced in several southern and western Odisha districts in past some days ahead of the rural polls scheduled from February 16.
SP (Kalahandi) Saravana Vivek said the journalist seem to have come very close to the poster while trying to take its photograph and got in contact with the anti-pressure mines. “Security forces with the help of bomb disposal squads are trying to find out if more such explosives were planted,” he said.
Vivek said the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) Division (CPI-Maoist) had put up posters near Karlakhunta Bridge at Madanpur Rampur. After police got such an information around 9 am, two companies of CRPF and bomb disposal squads were made ready to dominate the area. However, around 12 noon there was a blast in which the journalist was killed.
The deceased Rohit Biswal (47) was a resident of Madanpur-Rampur area. He is survived by wife, a nine-year-old son and a six year old daughter.
Besides Kalahandi, Maoist posters appealing people to boycott polls have surfaced in Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri and Bargarh districts in past some days.
Two days ago on Thursday, posters purportedly put up by the Visaka East Division of the banned CPI (Maoist) at Jantapai, Jodambo and Jantri areas of the Swabhiman anchal in Malkangiri district had warned candidates to remain aloof from poll process or face dire consequences.
A senior police officer said the security forces have kept a close watch on Maoist activities ahead of the rural polls. He said people should avoid going near Maoist posters as explosives may have been planted near them ostensibly targeting the security personnel.