Bhubaneswar: At least five police home guards in Orissa's Koraput district submitted their resignations on Saturday fearing attack by Maoists, who recently killed two policemen in the region, police said.
"Fearing a threat to their lives, the five home guards submitted their resignations to me," Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Harekrishna Mallik said.
Home guards are an auxiliary force assisting the police.
Rabindranath Sahu, one of the home guards, said they had no choice but to resign because they do not want to die.
The development comes two days after the rebels killed a home guard and a constable of Machakunda police station near Ankadeli village, some 100 km from the district headquarters Koraput town.
The rebels opened fired at them when they were returning from a local market Thursday. Both died on the spot.
Through posters and leaflets, Maoists have asked the home guards and other policemen of the region to quit their jobs if they want to stay alive.
Maoists are active in more than half of the state's 30 districts. The district of Koraput, about 500 km from here, is considered one of their strongholds.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, July 09, 2011, 14:56