JEYPORE/KORAPUT/RAYAGADA: Security has been beefed up in Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts in the wake of the week-long Martyrs Week which began on Saturday. Posters and banners have been put up at many places in the three districts by Andhra-Odisha Special Zonal Committee of CPI(Maoist) urging people to observe Martyrs Week.
In Malkangiri, vehicular traffic was affected on Saturday as most of the private and government buses remained off the road. Police personnel has been directed to keep an eye on the movement of suspicious persons. SP Jagmohan Meena said DVF, BSF and SOG jawans have been deployed in sensitive pockets of the district. Meena said police check posts have been set up at all entry and exit points of the district and vehicles entering Malkangiri are being frisked.
Posters and banners have been put up by CPI(Maoist) Kalimela Area Committee in which, the Maoists have asked people to observe the week in memory of Maoist leader Charu Majumdar and other cadres who were killed in police encounters.
A banner was put up at the Martyrs’ Memorial pillar near Hanumal village in Koraput appealing to villagers to observe the Martyrs Week in memory of 29 Maoist cadres who were killed in a police encounter at Ramaguda village on October 24, 2016.
On Friday night, the ultras killed Jayram Hantal, a resident of Sukhboi village bordering Andhra Pradesh. Movement of government buses to Maoist-affected areas was either suspended or diverted for security reasons on Saturday. However, the bandh did not affect business establishments which remained open.
Combing has been intensified in Maoist hubs like Narayanpatana, Bandhugam, Lamtapur, Nandapur, Potangi, Laxmipur and Boipariguda. Surveillance is being maintained on vehicles crossing the areas bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Intelligence sources have alerted police administration over a possible attack by the Maoists, who are angry over the opening of Gurupriya bridge in Chitrakonda.
DIG, South-Western Range, Koraput, Ashish Singh is monitoring the situation. Police said security forces have been kept on alert and advised not to move to any place without following the standard operating procedure.
Similarly, in Rayagada, posters were put up by Bansadhara Ghumusara and Nagavali division in Kurli gram panchayat under Bissamcuttack police limits. While plying of government buses was suspended, the bandh did not affect normal life in any part of the district. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in bordering areas, said Rayagada SP, Rahul PR, who has appealed to villagers in these areas to share information about the movement of ultras.