Security tightened in southern Odisha

Security was tightened in Maoist-infested southern Odisha districts with deployment of additional force in vulnerable areas in view of the Maoists' observation of martyrs' week from tomorrow.

The Maoists observe the week from July 28 to August 3 every year to pay tribute to their leaders and cadres who lost their lives.

Even though chief of Odisha Maobadi Party Sabyasachi Panda was arrested by the police recently, security has been beefed up in the region suspecting that his supporters might involve in untoward incidents in the area. "We have tightened security with deployment of additional force in sensitive areas and anti-Maoist operation has been intensified in the region," said DIG (southern range) Amitabh Thakur.

The elite force like Special Operation Group (SOG), Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), India Reserve Battalion (IRB), District Voluntary Forces (DVF) and Special Police Officers (SPO) have been pressed into service to maintain security in Maoist-affected areas in these districts.

South Odisha districts like Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur are affected by Maoist activities. Patrolling and checking in long-route vehicles was intensified in Daringibadi, Kotagarh and Bramhanigaon, the Maoist-affected areas in Kandhamal district, SP K V Singh said. Similar measures were also taken in Gajapati district.

"We have alerted the forces in the district. Besides regular checking of the vehicles and blocking in the border areas are continued," said SP (Gajapati), C S Meena.