Odisha

Maoists banner calls Odisha villagers to boycott polls

On the eve of Republic Day celebration, Maoist posters surfaced asking villagers to boycott the upcoming elections.

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RAYAGADA: ON the eve of Republic Day celebration, Maoist posters surfaced in Dangabahali village of Kalahandi district bordering Kalyansinghpur block of Rayagada district here on Wednesday asking villagers to boycott the elections.

In the banner, issued by CPI (Maoist), they appealed villagers to boycott the ensuing panchayat election protesting single track administration for the benefit of capitalists. They also warned that those who working as informers for police and CRPF will be punished in the Praja Court.

After the appearance of the banner, Rayagada police have intensified patrolling to thwart any attempt by the ultras to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations.

Last year, a day before January 26 ultras set ablaze equipment and vehicle of a construction company at Daliakujji village of Bissamcuttack block under Muniguda police limits in the district.

The ultras also damaged railway tracks near Munikhol under Muniguda block very close to the 4th Battalion of CRPF camp at Muniguda on January 24 night of 2015. The Maoists had tried to blow up the railway track by planting a bomb.

Though the bomb exploded, no such damage was reported by that time.

In view of the past incidents, police have been keeping a strict vigil in sensitive areas like Kalyansinghpur, Bissamcuttack, Munigdua, Kashipur and Rayagada blocks. Combing operation has been intensified in sensitive pockets of the district, said Additional SP Patitapaban Choudhury.

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