Maoists send letter to Odisha government, demand halting of operations against them

After disrupting polling in 15 places during first phase of Lok Sabha elections, Maoists have sent a letter to the Odisha government through polling officials demanding that operations against them be halted.

The letter carried by a six-member polling party, that was detained by Maoists yesterday and released today, handed over the letter to the District Collector P K Reddy.

"Stop anti-Maoist operations and immediately provide proper education, health, drinking water and other services to people in 151 villages in cut-off areas under Chitrakonda assembly seat," the letter said.

One of the polling officials said the Maoists wrote down their office and residential addresses before releasing them and directing them to hand over the letter to the collector.

Official sources said there was no voting in Silakata, Guapali and Kalabeda polling booths in Chitraconda assembly segment in the district.