Bhubaneswar, Nov 6 (IANS) Orissa police has sought a ban on the tribal outfit, Chasi Mulia Adibasi Sangha (CMAS) in view of its alleged criminal activities and Maoist links, officials said Sunday.
“We have sought a ban on the outfit keeping in view their criminal activities. We have sought a ban on the outfit as some of the people of the organisation have criminal antecedents,” Korpaut district’s Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar told reporters here.

He, however, said that police will follow the proper process to seek a ban on the outfit.

“There is a process of banning an organisation. We have only presented our view why the outfit would be banned. The state government will decide whether it is justified to ban the organisation or not,” he added.

Police have launched a crackdown in several villages in the region since a mob of over 300 people attacked a police station Nov 20 and looted weapons at Narayanpatna town - the block headquarters some 500 km from here.

The police have also announced a reward for information which could leading to the arrest of CMAS leader Nachika Linga, who is allegedly involved in several crimes.

Police have been claiming that CMAS is a Maoist-backed outfit, which has forcibly occupied hundreds of acres of farmland belonging to non-tribals in the district.

While the outfit has denied links with Maoists, they say they are fighting for the rights of tribals in the region.