Incident Summary:
02/22/2009: On Sunday evening between 2100 and 0200, in one of four linked attacks, 40 Communist Party of India- Maoist militants ransacked a police outpost and then set it on fire in Govindpali village in Malkangiri, Orissa, India. The militants also triggered explosives in two mobile phone towers belonging to the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and damaged another. Several vehicles parked on the road were also set on fire. Prior to that, Maoists attacked the house of a contractor, P.K. Swain in Govindpali village in Malkangiri. The militants dragged Swain from his house and shot and killed him before detonating explosives on his house and setting four vehicles on fire. Several vehicles parked on the road were also set on fire. No other casualties were reported in the attacks. The ultras had left behind leaflets and posters asking the Central Reserve Police Force to leave the place and the contractors and officials to stop 'exploiting' the poor tribalâs. Police suspected the role of the Malkangiri unit of the Maoist in the attack.
Overview
GTD ID:
200902220019
When:
2009-02-22
Country:
India
Region:
South Asia
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Orissa
City:
Govindpalli
Location Details:
The attack took place at a police outpost in Govindpali village in Malkangiri.
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Police |
Name of Entity |
Indian Police |
Specific Description |
A police outpost |
Nationality of Target |
India |
Additional Information
Hostages |
No |
Ransom |
No |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Unknown |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Incendiary |
Arson/Fire |
Weapon Details |
Unknown incendiary devices were used in the attack. |
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | Yes |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
This was one of four related attacks (cf.200902220008, 200902220009, ISVG Event ID 3085320). The available sources listed the number of perpetrators for this attack from 40 to 70, and because no majority figures were reported, the lowest proferred perpetrator figures were used in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database. |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
40 |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
0 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
0 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
United News of India, "Maoists Kill Contractor, Set Ablaze Outpost, Vehicles," LexisNexis, HT Syndication, February 23, 2009. |
National Counterterrorism Center, "One Contractor Killed in Armed Attack by Suspected CPI-Maoist in Malkangiri, Orissa, India," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, December 10, 2009. |
South Asia Terrorism Portal, "Maoists Kill Contractor in Orissa," http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=2/23/2009#1 (February 23, 2009). |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties