Maoists in Orissa go hi tech: police

Bhubaneswar, Nov 3 - Maoist guerrillas in one of the violence-scarred districts of Orissa are equipped with latest hi tech gadgets and modern weapons, according to police.'The Maoists in Malkangiri district use extortion money - collected from traders and village level politicians - to buy latest equipments, including satellite phones and modern weaponry,' Satish Gojbhie, district superintendent of police, told IANS Saturday.Of the 30 districts in Orissa, Malkangiri is one of 11 affected by leftist insurgency.

According to Gojbhie, the insurgents in the district are financially sound.He said that one of the arrested members of Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI-Maoist, Sriramulu Srinivasa Rao, 37, has confessed that he was collecting at least Rs.20 million every month from the district.

The Maoist who faces at least 37 criminal charges was arrested this July. 'Malkangiri district has no industry nor does it have mines. From his confession it is evident that village level politicians such as ward members, sarpanch and some non-government organisations are providing them with regular cash,' Gojbhie said.'The ultras have a few satellite phones although I cannot give exact numbers,' he added.

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