Bhubaneswar:
At least 91 civilians had been killed by naxalites in Orissa's four southern districts since 2000, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the state assembly today.
Replying to a question by Congress member Mamata Madhi, Patnaik, who is in-charge of the Home department, said that the 91 civilian killings were reported from Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nawrangpur districts. However, Patnaik said information regarding the
compensation provided to the families of the deceased civilians was under collection.
Earlier, Madhi had alleged that though a large number of people were being killed by the maoists in worst affected Malkangiri districts, the government has failed to provide
compensation according to the provisions.
In a separate demand during the zero hour, the BJP MLA and former minister Jaynarayn Mishra asked the state government to clarify its policy on how to curb the red menance.
"The left wing extremism situation in Orissa is gradually becoming grave while the state government have been sleeping," Mishra alleged.
Mishra also alleged that the one of the ruling party MLAs recently released a maoist book at Ranpur creating confusion about the state government's stand on Maoists.