Maoists threaten Naveen on R-Day

Maoists today threatened Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with dire consequences if he attends the Republic Day function in Cuttack on Tuesday, official sources said.

Maoists on Monday threatened Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with dire consequences if he attends the Republic Day function in Cuttack on Tuesday, official sources said.

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In an e-mail sent by one Babuli Behera to the CMO, the rebels demanded immediate release of Subhashree Das alias Mili Panda, wife of Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, and asked the chief minister not to attend the R-Day function.

"If you deliver speech at Cuttack, this will be the last public adress in your life", a source in the CMO office said quoting the content of the e-mail.

The CPI (Maoist) has given a bandh call on Tuesday demanding release of Mili Panda and also for the state government's alleged anti-tribal stand.

Top police officers, however, remained tight lipped over the e-mail.