Malkangiri: A crucial peace committee meeting held at the FLC Hall in Malkangiri District Collector’s office premises has led to a breakthrough, with representatives from MV/26 and Rekhalaguda villages agreeing to restore peace and brotherhood.
The meeting, attended by senior officials including South Western DIG Dr. Kanwar Vishal Singh, District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, and SP Vinod Patil, along with Malkangiri MLA Narasinha Madkami, yielded a commitment from both parties to maintain harmony.
District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay emphasised Malkangiri’s history of peaceful coexistence among diverse communities and expressed confidence that this spirit will continue.
A core committee of 10 members from each party will be formed to ensure sustained peace. The agreement comes after violence erupted in MV 26 village following the discovery of a tribal woman’s headless body, sparking tensions between neighbouring communities.
The administration has made efforts to maintain law and order, with officials working to rebuild trust and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the area.
Tensions escalated in Malkangiri’s MV-26 area after a 51-year-old tribal woman’s headless body was found on December 4, sparking violent clashes between tribal residents and Bengali-speaking villagers. The woman, a resident of Rakhalguda village, had gone missing earlier, and her murder is suspected to be linked to a land dispute. A man named Subhranjan Mandal has been arrested in connection with the crime.
On Sunday, hundreds of tribal residents, armed with traditional weapons, allegedly attacked the MV-26 area, vandalising property, burning nearly 150 houses, and destroying several vehicles. Many families fled their homes in fear, and authorities have not yet confirmed the full extent of the damage.
