Two killed as police open fire at tribal mob in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 : At least two tribals were killed Friday when police opened fire at a mob that attacked a police station in Orissa's Koraput district, an official said.

More than 300 people allegedly attacked the police station at Narayanpatna, some 500 km from here, to protest frequent police patrolling in their area, considered a hotbed of Maoist activities.

The protesters were activists of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, a local tribal group. The police opened fire when the mob tried to loot weapons, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda told IANS.

"A mob of about 300 people attacked the police station and tried to loot weapons. Two people were killed in the police firing," he said.

Force has been deployed in the police station to prevent further attacks. The area is tense but the situation is under control, Panda said.

Police claimed the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha is a Maoist-backed outfit, which has forcibly occupied hundreds of acres of farmland belonging to non-tribals in the district.

While the outfit has denied links with Maoists, they say they are fighting for the rights of tribals in the region.