New twist to Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu murder

The Plan to Kill Majhi was hatched at the residence of Amrit Adhikari in Bharsundi DNK village under Gona GP.
Nabarangpur:
The investigators are still groping in the dark over the sensational murder of Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu Majhi even as no Maoist outfit has owned responsibility of the killing even after five days.

While the police did not rule out the involvement of Maoists in the MLA’s killing, locals and eyewitnesses have different view on the case.

A close aid of the MLA Subash Gond has revealed that a youth in the mid twenties came close to stage from behind, where MLA was sitting with Sukdev Gand, Topiram Nayak, Upendra Gand, Revenue Inspector of Gona, Narayan Barik, supervisor M Besra, and BJD worker Chittranjan Gand, in the first and second line and in the third line Subash Gond, along with the others chaired at the stage, behind the third line PSO PK Patro stood. There were two assailants altogether in their mid twenties came close to the stage from behind and one of them was wearing a black pant and brown check T- shirt shot from the back side of the PSO from point blank range.

The third one who was in the mid -thirties was waiting on a motor cycle in the approach road close to the stage. After killing the PSO, the attackers shouted slogans in MLA’s name and they shot him from the rear. Subash Gond, resisted one of the gunman but another who is standing there fired at him but the bullet did not him while another local Ramdas Gond sustained critical bullet injuries. After with the revolver of PSO the miscreants shot another round at the PSO and MLA. Then they fired some blanks and shouting slogans fled towards Chhattisgarh border.

The assailants tried to give a Maoist color to the incident considering the proximity of the area to Chattisgarh border” Gond who was also driving car when Jagabandhu Majhi was attacked in 2004 at the marriage function at Raighar, further revealed that an FIR had been lodged with the Raighar Police station on August 2, 2011 regarding a conspiracy to wipe out Majhi as he was a hindrance to some land encroachers and politicians in the area.

“We had called the Inspector –in-Charge of Raighar police station to the Raighar block office and handed over the FIR in which the name of Amrit Adhikary and former MLA Dharmu Gond were mentioned as the main conspirators,” he said.

According to him the plan was hatched at the residence of Amrit Adhikary in Bharsundi DNK village under Gona gram panchayat and around 15 people gathered there to discuss the plan to kill MLA by hiring a contract killer. In that meeting Amrit Adhikary also disclosed that former MLA Dharmu Gond would give Rs 5 lakh for the contract killer and the rest Rs.10 lakh would be collected from others.

When asked how they came to know about this conspiracy, he said that “one villager who attended that meeting informed the MLA about the killing plan and pleaded for not disclosing his name as his life was in danger.” However, the district police on Thursday denied any such information received by the Raighar police station.

Ex-MLA Gond has also denied any such involvement and said that he has no knowledge about such allegations.
His fight against land grabbers and his popularity among tribals have made many envious and they wanted to eliminate him forever, claimed Subash Gond.
The saint BJD MLA of Umerkote Jagabandhu Majhi, who is alleged shot dead by Naxals while distributing pattas to the tribals at Gona village near Raighar was the most prominent tribal leader in the area. Even after his demise, he is still remembered for his advocacy of tribal rights. Since his student days he always stood for the cause of the tribal welfare in the district.
He had lunched himself on the political arena in 1998 when he was elected as the president of Pendrani College in Umerkote. Later he formed Dalit Samaj, an organization to fight against land grabbers.
The Bangladeshi settler’s factor is gaining ground behind the murder of the BJD MLA. The rivalry between Jagabandhu Majhi and Bangladeshi is known to the local people of area. As Majhi started his political career focusing on tribal issues and urged tribals to fight against illegal migrants who grabbed their land and exploited them in many ways. He used to travel to the tribal villages on his bicycle to create awareness among the innocent tribals and persuaded them to change their way of living by making themselves well educated and enterprising” remembered Jagannath Nayak, a veterinary worker of Gona village near Raighar who is also a member of Dalit Samaj since its inception.
Upendra Gand, an ex-sarapanch of Haldi GP who was present at the patta distribution function can't believes that murder is a handiwork of Moists. Topiram Nayak Sarpanch of Timanpur, said that whenever Maoists attack anyone, they initially warn that person and put posters against him but as far as I know, Majhi didn’t receive any such warnings from Maoists, he said.

It is known to every one that the Bangladeshi leadership was behind the murderous attacks on Majhi in 2004 and subsequent years. Of late, my brother was resisting the encroachment of the government land by the Banglashi settlers in the Umerkote and Raighar area saying the non-tribals can not encroach the tribal land in the PESA area. This was the reason for the raising conflict between him and the Bangladeshi settlers in the recent past in the area. Majhi was having sharp differences with the some leaders within the BJD here said the sister of Jagabandhu Majhi, Jayanti Mala Majhi.

Umerkote MLA killing: Cops still groping in the dark

Nabarangpur:
Even as the body of slain BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi was consigned to flames, the police and Crime Branch sleuths were busy picking up the threads to try and track the assassins.

“The police are trying to ascertain if the reason behind the murder was political or personal rivalry. A probe into all theories is on as Maoists have not taken up the responsibility of the murder, which they generally do if they are involved,” said the sources.

According to eyewitnesses, the three bike-borne youths in their mid twenties came close to the dias, shot at PSO Pramod Kumar Patro from point blank range hitting him in the eye. As Patro dropped to the ground dead, the two fired at the BJD MLA at his ear. The other miscreant was waiting on a motor cycle in the approaching road close to the stage. Then the killers snatched the service revolver of Majhi’s security officer and fired at both of them for a second time. The Legislator and the PSO received two bullets each. During the firing, a local Rama Dash Gond was also hit. Many believe that the assailants might have tried to give a Maoist colour to the incident considering the proximity of the area to Chattisgarh. The MLA had created several enemies and opened several fronts. He wielded enormous power in the region, remarked the sources while speculating on different angles to the murder.

More recently, on March, 2010 a section of the Gond tribes was aggrieved over Majhi, in Raighar school headmaster Ghana Shyam Gond’s death under mysteries circumstances. The BJP and Congress leaders alleged than that Gonda had been killed by a group of BJD workers particularly the followers of the MLA. In addition Gonda Samaj belonging to the Scheduled Community submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister through the local administration against Jagabandhu Majhi. Congress leaders demanded a CI. probe into the murder.

However, Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik ordered Crime Branch investigation and the case is pending with the local court. His tiff with a Raipur-based trader was well known to locals but they insist that is an old story and part payments had been made. The MLA had been attacked twice before in 2004 and 2008.

Jagabandhu started his political career when he become the president of Pendrani College at Umerkote in 1998. He kept contact with tribals and strengthened his social and political position with them.

In 2000 Jagabandhu organised the Dalit Samaj movement against Bengali settlers in Nabarangpur district. He lunched the agitation for restoration of the lands of the tribals from Bengali settlers. The movement took a violent communal turn and nine persons were killed when the police opened fire on the agitating mob. The law and order situation for some time went out of the control. The land disputes related to ethnic issues appears to be the most likely cause of murder. In fact he had innumerable cases registered against him. He shot into prominence during the ethnic riots in Raighar and was subsequently roped in by the ruling BJD. The police were in search to nab Majhi who was hiding himself in the jungles.

In 2004, the Dalit Samaj won three Zilla Parishad seats from Raighar block and 10 Samiti members. Bhanumati Majhi, a close associate of the MLA became the chairperson of Raighar block. In 2004 when the BJD decided to grab the Zilla Parishad president post and secretly contacted Jagabandhu. The BJD gave assurance to him to withdraw the cases. Jagabandhu obtained anticipatory bail as assured by the Government and surrendered before the court at Umerkote. In 2004, he fought the Assembly elections as an Independent from Umerkote seat but lost. After 15 days before the elections, he was shot in the waist by assailants, which paralysed his legs making him wheel chair bound since then. Again in 2008, a bomb was hurled on his vehicle when he was on his way to Umerkote from Raighar. The bomb did not explode.

Locals recall how Majhi was inducted to the BJD amidst much fanfare in 2008 with CM Naveen Patnaik and top leaders. In 2009 he won the seat for the first time after being given a BJD ticket.

The State Government is now claming that the Maoist involvement is suspected in the killing of the MLA. Maoists generally come in a group to kill a person and leave Maoists literature and posters before they leave the incident place.

The Maoists have not claimed so far the killing of MLA Jagabandhu. It is known to every one that non-tribal leadership was behind the murderous attack on Majhi in 2004. Similar attack might have taken place on Majhi this time too.

Sources said that the investigators were trying to gather leads regarding the involvement of contract killers. Senior police officials those who are working under Nabarngapur district suspecting the people those who killed Jagabandhu are professional killers. This time people particularly tribals expect that the State Government will come out with truth and protect the land rights of the people of this district.

ADG (Crime Branch) Abhaya who was camping in Umerkote has returned back to Cuttack. Meanwhile, CB IG Susant Kumar Nath has taken over the investigation charge from Tuesday. The State police had rushed a scientific team to Umerkote, while another had already headed to Chhattisgarh in search of the bike-borne killers. However, no one was still sure if it was Maoist could be behind the killing or was it professional killers hired by someone.

IG Nath who was the SP of Nabarangpur during the Raighar incident in 2001 that witnessed violent clashes between the tribals and the Bangladeshi settlers reached Raighar on Monday and visited village Gona to take stock of the situation and interacted with his departmental officials. The Crime Branch which took the charge to investigate the incident has bad track record here, as it still failed to solve the case of 2004 where deceased MLA Majhi was attacked by two unidentified gunmen while attending a marriage ceremony at Raighar and in 2010 in the case of the missing school headmaster Ghana Shyam Gond a Headmaster of Birpur primary Seba Asrama under Raighar Block who was missing from his house later his dead body was recovered in Chhattisgarh forest under mysterious circumstances

In these two cases the Crime Branch even failed to file preliminary charge sheet within the statutory period in the court against the accused persons. By observing these two earlier issues there is an ambiguity that the investigating agency this time could solve the problem said an advocate of Umerkote Bar Association Prasant Sahu.

“Nothing can be said for sure at this moment. The police are yet to get any lead regarding the motive behind the crime and the people involved in it. The Crime Branch is investigating into all possible angles. I hope things will be clear within a day or two,” Nabarangpur Superintendent of Police Niti Sekhar said.

BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi & his PSO shot dead.

Nabarangpur:
In a shocking incident Umerkote Legislator of the ruling BJD in Odisha, Jagabandhu Majhi, (39) and his personal security officer were shot dead by unidentified men at a public meeting in Gona under Raighar police limit here on Saturday.
As per the statements of the party workers present at the meeting while Mr.Majhi distributing land records to the local villagers at around 1 pm three unidentified men came in a hero honda splender plus bike, two persons opened fire to the personal security officer P.K Patro, during the fire a supporter also critically injured. After they gone near Majhi and fired in the gun of PSO on the back of Majhi on the spot died they shouted some slogans of Maoists.
The bodies of Majhi and his PSO, have been taken to the Raighar Police station and investigation was on as the site was close to Maoist-hit area of Chhattisgarh, involvement of Maoists in the killing was suspected and various aspects were being examined to ascertain the fact, said the Superitendent of Police Niti Sekhar.
Prior to this incident Maoists has also attacked to Majhi on 13th March 2004 at Raighar, while he was attending a marriage ceremony of former chairperson, Bhanumati Majhi,

Mr. Majhi was the president of Pendrani College of Umerkote, in the year 2001, later he was also president of dalit samaj, organized agitations on behalf of local tribal people, in the Raighar block on illegal migrants from Bangladesh, and against the illegal land encroachment of their community land by outside settlers predominantly Bengalis. He was also elected as zilla parisad member, in the year 2007.

After sustaining a major injury to his spinal cord in a Maoist attack in 13th March 2004 while attending a marriage function of former chairperson of Raighar block, Bhanumati Majhi. He joined in the ruling Biju Janata Dal, on 2008, elected as MLA . Mr.Majhi was political worker who rose from grass roots to serve the tribals and his death has evoked tremendous condemnation and revulsion from all quarters.

Mr. Majhi took lead role in the dalit samaj agitation and in the month of June 24th 2001 violent clash broken out in Raigarh over long standing land dispute between tribals and Bengali migrants. In the ethnic violence the police men were forced to fire when tribals started getting violent where 5 people were killed in police firing, more than 300 people were injured and property worth cores of rupees were damaged.

Collector builds confidence by grievance redressal

Also Published in
The Pioneer. Bhubaneswar Dated:21.Sept.2011.
The Statesman,Bhubaneswar, Orissadiary.Com, Publictrustofindia.com, odishabarta.com.
BASANT RATH.
Monday and Saturday are the Grievance Day at the Nabarangpur district office. Any citizen can file his or her grievance petition personally to the Collector at the Collectorate. District Collector Sibabrata Dash listens to the grievances and takes appropriate steps with necessary follow-up for their redressal.

Over 150 people from various parts of the district submitted their complaints and grievances to the Collector during the grievance cell programme held at the Collectorate on Monday.

The Collector conducted hearings on the petitions related to housing, house sites, pensions, financial support, self-employment and problems related to the physically-challenged, medical assistance, land disputes, family problems and civil supplies including ration cards and other grievances.

The complaints and grievances were segregated department-wise and forwarded to the departments concerned. The concerned officials were asked to take the necessary follow-up actions to address the grievances at the earliest.

Speaking to reporters, Dash said that every official must conduct a fortnightly review and top priority must be given to solve the problems mentioned in the petitions.

Preparatory Meeting For the celebration of Mondei-2011.

The Pioneer / The statesman. Bhubaneswar Dated:20.Sept.2011
orissadiary.com/odishabarta.com
By: Basant Rath, Nabarangpur:
The preparatory meeting for the celebration of the Annual Tribal Cultural festival Mondei-2011 was held at the Ashok Meheta conference hall of Collectorate under the chairmanship of District Collector, Mr.Sibabrata Dash here. It was decided to bring massal (torches) from Raj Jagannathpur , that is under Nandahandi block. The block level Mondei will kicks off from 17 October to 28 October and the district level festival will be from November 1st to 5th.

The festivals will have cultural programmes consisting of Drama, dance, songs, sports, traditional music, open quiz, drawing, Miss, Mr and Mrs Nabarangpur, recitation of Poem, Tribal healthy baby contest, Photo exhibition, sand arts, and competitions will be held. Besides that Best Journalists from Print and electronics media will also honoured at the function.

Mr. Dash said the aim of Mondei was to spot the hidden talents in the fields of art, culture, sports, and encourage in the participations of different competitions which is being organized for the first time during the festival.
Though in Mondei-2006 and 2010 no one was felicitated with the Mondei sanmman, this year Former Speaker of Loksabha, Rabi Roy, Raghunath Panigrahy, and Purnachandra Bidika,a would be honoured, he added. DIPRO, Bhujang Bhusana Rao, presented the details for the preparation of Mondei. Different committees formed to coordinate the function.

ST & SC development Commissioner visited Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur:
The ST & SC development secretary-cum-commissioner Mr.Sontosh Kumar Sarangi visited the district. On Saturday he visited Kanyasharama’s of Dabugam,Papadahandi and Umerkote interacted with the students. The students of the Kanyashram Papadahandi, alleged that the water sinking from the roof of school and hostel. Mr.Sarangi directed the ITDA, officials to repair immediately. He also visited Chingudiguda, village under Jharigam block, interacted with the farmers, and advised to cultivate cash crops. PA ITDA, Rashmiranjan Sahoo, DWO, Mukund Nihal, OTLP, officials also present during the visit.

Headmaster, JE held for bungling fund in Umerkote.

Nabarangpur:
A headmaster and a junior engineer (JE) of Jharigam block have been arrested following misappropriation of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) fund.
According to reports, Bijan Kumar Ray, headmaster of Dokrikot Primary School under Umerkote educational circle, allegedly, had misappropriated `6. 3 lakh meant for construction of a school building. The headmaster withdrew the sum in two phases such as `2 lakh and `4.3 lakh, respectively, without doing any work.
Similarly, Rajkishor Baliarshing, JE, who was in charge of surveillance, approved the bill for sanction of the money in favour of Ray.
Finding the massive corruption, Nabarangpur DPC Ananda Jena had lodged an FIR in Jharigam Police Station against the duo. Acting on the report, the Jharigam police registered a case under 420/409/ 109 of the IPC and arrested Baliarsing from Jharigam and Ray from his resident at Umerkote.
Both the accused were forwarded to Umerkote court, where the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Santunu Kumar Das rejected their bail petitions and remanded them to judicial custody.
Earlier, in such an incident, District Collector Sibabrata Dash had suspended one headmaster, JE, CRCC and ACO of Jharigam Block and issued so-cause notice to the Umerkote DI of Schools.