MALKANGIRI : WITH less than seven days left for Maoist martyr’s week, the police are not willing to take any chances in the rebel strongholds. Additional security forces have been sent to sensitive areas and combing has been intensified to flush out the Maoists. The week will be observed by the Maoists from July 28 to August 3 to pay tributes to their slain leaders and cadres. Apprehending that besides paying homage to its members killed in encounters, erecting memorials, conducting meetings in villages and recruiting youths, the Maoists could engage in violence post-observance of the week, police are on high alert.Maoist groups, mostly from border areas of Chhattisgarh, cross over and carry out attacks and retreat quickly, police said.
To make their presence felt, the Maoists have been reportedly putting up banners in different parts of Kalimela, Podia and Motu appealing to villagers to participate in observance of the week. A senior police official said on condition of anonymity that violent incidents cannot be ruled out during the week on Odisha-Chhattisgarh border where the Maoists are sore after the killings of their top leaders such as Madhav and others.
If sources are to be believed, top Maoist cadres from Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have already entered the district a few days back and are organising meetings in remote areas of Manyamkonda, Bhejanguda, Kangrukonda, Sudhakonda, Tekguda, MV-79, Salimi, Mahupadar and cut off regions on the other side of Chitrakonda reservoir to mobilise people for the week-long celebration. However, the police seem to be determined not to allow the Maoists conduct any programmes during the week. Combing operations are continuing and a few days back the Border Security Forces, CoBRA, District Voluntary Forces and Special Operations Group of Odisha Police have been reinforced in rebel strongholds to foil the evil designs of the rebels.