Malkangiri Village Burned After Tribal Mob Retaliation

Malkangiri's MV-26 village now lies in ruins, with charred remains and blackened walls replacing homes, following an attack by a tribal mob from neighboring Rakhalguda. The devastating arson, which consumed over 160 houses, was a violent retaliation for the alleged murder of a tribal woman, whose headless body was found on December 4th. The incident has instilled deep fear among the residents, many of whom are Bengali Hindus who migrated from Bangladesh decades ago, rebuilding their lives from scratch.

Hundreds of villagers fled in panic as the mob stormed their homes. The community, which had sought stability in Malkangiri, described the violence as a painful reminder of past hardships. While condemning the murder that triggered the outrage, they emphasized that destroying an entire village was not justice, but a tragedy that reduced decades of hard work to ashes. The administration has been urged to act decisively and provide assurances against future violence.

An Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team is actively searching for the missing head using underwater cameras. A peace committee meeting has been held, with both sides agreeing to cooperate with the administration to restore harmony. The police have committed to taking necessary steps to maintain peace in the region, as residents await assurances before considering a return to their destroyed homes.