Civilian cry saved him

ORISSA: He is one of those who has lived to tell the terrible tale. With 35 security personnel and a boatman still missing after the Maoist ambush two days ago, Manoranjan Dey counts himself lucky as he recounts how he swam to safety and negotiated with the attackers.

One person was killed, at least 10 Greyhound personnel were injured and as many as 35 were missing after Maoists ambushed on Sunday the police patrol which was crossing the Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district to return to Andhra Pradesh after taking part in joint operations with the police force of Orissa.

“I cannot forget those moments,” said Dey, one of the only 29 survivors of the attack by dozens of armed Maoist insurgents. “It was around 8.30 am when we started our journey in the motor launch. About two hours later, there was a gunshot and one bullet hit our boat,” Dey told journalists.

The vessel assistant said the elite Greyhound commandos retaliated.

“The way Maoists were raining bullets, we were left with only three options — drown because the boat was certainly going to capsize, be shot to death or jump in the water,” he said.

“Some fought back but the vessel was damaged and we had to jump from the boat. But the firing did not end. Thank god, no bullets hit me.”

He said the spot was a narrow waterway between two hills. “I started swimming towards the shore shouting that I was a civilian and pleaded with them to save my life as I had no enmity with them.”

It helped, Dey added simply.

“They stopped firing at me and asked me to swim towards them.”

After that, the group of rebels tore his clothes to tie his hands and cover his eyes. They provided him food and released him in the evening.

“I promised them that I would not help police and started my return journey again in the water when it was dark,” Dey recalled with a shudder.

After swimming about four-five km, he saw a boat that pulled him to safety. It was about 8 pm when he walked to Chitrakonda town from the shore.