Odisha asks police to be alert in border districts

Sharing highly porous borders with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Odisha government today directed police authorities of the concerned districts to remain alert about possible Maoist influx from Sukma district where 27 people, including Congress leaders, were killed two days ago.
"The state government has asked police chiefs and other senior officials of bordering districts to remain alert," Odisha Home Secretary U N Behera told reporters.
Behera said the state issued directions to the superintendents of police of border districts following the review of state border security by the home department.
A section of Congress MLAs belonging to border districts, however, said they were not provided with adequate security during visits to remote areas. "We demand adequate security while touring remote areas. While ruling BJD leaders are given proper security, no such arrangement is made in case of Congress and BJP MLAs and MPs," alleged senior Congress MLA Santosh Singh Sakluja.

Saluja said they apprehend danger from red rebels as people's Representatives would frequent remote areas in view of the coming general elections in the state.
"Legislators of opposition parties including BJP are not being provided with required security in naxal-prone areas," said suspended BJP MLA Bhimmsen Choudhury.
Stating that Maoists targetted Congress leaders in Chhattishgarh while they were returning from a party meeting, some Odisha MLAs feared similar incident may be repeated here as the same group of rebels also operate in the state.