Orissa probes Maoist hand in violence
Himansu S. , Hindustan Times
January 8, 2008

Introduction: We are enquiring into the activities of foreign-funded NGOs as there are allegations of their Maoist links. They would be brought to the notice of the Judicial Commission. A K Tripathi, Orissa Chief Secretary

After evidence of Maoist involvement in certain incidents of violence in Kandhamal district, the Orissa government has started enquiring the activities of several foreign-funded NGOs in the district and their alleged links with the Maoist groups.

Chief secretary A.K. Tripathy on Monday told newsmen here, a high-level police enquiry has been ordered into the attack on Brahmanigaon police station in the district on December 27.

After the recovery of 12 unlicensed guns from the village it has become evident that that the attack was the handiwork of the Left Wing Extremists and not the mob involved in the communal tension.

"As part of the police investigation into Brahmanigaon incident we are enquiring into the activities of foreign funded NGOs as there are allegations of their links with the Maoists. The allegations would also be brought to the notice of the Judicial Commission which is going to start its enquiry into the Kandhamal communal tension shortly," the chief secretary said.

In the aftermath of the Kandhamal communal violence certain organisations including the VHP had alleged about the diversion of foreign funds received by NGOs and Christian missionaries to the Maoist groups.

VHP state general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath said, "We strongly believe that the Maoist groups in Kandhamal are being funded by Christian missionaries and several NGOs who receive huge amount of foreign funds for their operations in the district.