Security was tightened and forces remained alert in Maoist-hit southern Odisha districts with deployment of additional force in vulnerable areas as the Maoists' observation of martyrs' week began today affecting vehicular movement in some areas.
Maoists observe the week from July 28 to August 3 every year to pay tribute to their leaders and cadres who lost their lives.
Normal life was affected to some extent in rural pockets of Malkangiri district as passenger buses and other vehicles stopped plying at many places fearing trouble, police said adding shops and business establishments also remained closed in areas like Kalimela, Padia and Motu.
"No untoward incident was reported in naxal-hit areas. Police are vigilant and prepared to deal with any situation," Inspector In-Charge of Kalimela police station SK Nayak said.
In other naxal-hit South Odisha districts like Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Gajapati the situation was normal amid tight security measures.
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.
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. Besides regular checking of the vehicles and blocking in the border areas are continued," said SP (Gajapati), C S Meena.
