Malkangiri district

Why in news?

• The Border Security Force and the Odisha police have set up a Company Operating Base (COB) at Gurasethu, dubbed the “ideological headquarters” of the outlawed CPI(Maoist).
• The place is located in Swabhiman Anchal along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border.

About Malkangiri:

• Malkangiri district is the southwesternmost district in the Indian state of Odisha.
• It is a tribal-dominated district with 57.8% of the population made up of Scheduled Tribes.
• The largest tribes are the Koya and Bhumia. Other major tribes include the Porja, Khond and Gadaba.
• In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Malkangiri one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).
• Today, the district has become known as a hotbed for Maoist activities.

Maoist Activity in Malkangiri:

• Malkangiri has been one of the worst-affected districts with 332 Maoist incidents recorded between 2008 and 2020.
• These claimed the lives of 101 civilians and 77 security personnel.
• Gurasethu was once known to be the heartland of the CPI (Maoist) and the ultras used to conduct training and other activities without fear, as the place was not easily accessible.
• Security forces had to trek to reach the place.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following Maoist affected districts and their states in which they are located:
1.Malkangiri: Odisha
2.Dantewada: Chattisgarh
3.Gadichiroli: Maharashtra
Which of the pairs give above is/are correctly matched?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)1 and 3 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1,2 and 3

Answer to prelims question