In a first, Swabhiman area in Malkangiri celebrates Independence Day

Koraput: For years the Swabhiman area (earlier known as the cut off area) lived under the shadow of guns. Cut off from the mainland owing to the Balimela reservoir, the Maoists held sway over the 151 villages bordering Andhra Pradesh. On Wednesday, the area tasted freedom for the first time when the tricolour was unfurled on the occasion of Independence Day.

The celebration was facilitated by the 910-metre-long Gurupriya bridge which was inaugurated last July and brought the cut off area closer to the mainland. On Wednesday, defying threat from Maoists, DIG (south-western range) Himanshu Lal unfurled the tricolour in the presence of thousands of villagers. He also interacted with the locals and visited some of the villages. “The idea behind observing the Independence Day in the Swabhiman area was to instil confidence among the locals and send out a message to the Maoists that their days are numbered,” Lal said.

Over 20,000 residents of the Swabhiman area are hopeful that more development activities would follow in the coming days. “Never before did we observe Independence Day or Republic Day in the area owing to fear of Maoists. We were surprised and happy to see the unfurling of the tricolour in our area. We hope that with time, the situation will improve further,” said a local resident who did not wish to be named.

The celebration assumes significance given that the Maoists would give the police and locals sleepless nights. The Maoists had virtually converted it into a liberated zone.

But since the bridge came up, their influence has started waning. It has eased connectivity and has facilitated the movement of security forces. The bridge has also ushered in development activities.

“The villagers were urged not to give in to the Maoists under pressure. The police is there to help them and the administration is there to carry out development activities,” Lal told the villagers.

Given that ganja cultivation is rampant in the area, the police used the occasion to urge tribal farmers not to indulge in illegal activities.

“The tribals were made aware of the legal implications their acton might bring. They were asked to cultivate turmeric or other cash crops suitable to the area’s climate and soil,” the DIG added.