Odisha: Maoist posters spark panic in Baliguda

BERHAMPUR: Panic gripped residents of several villages in Baliguda block of Kandhamal district after Maoist posters surfaced at various places, including the main road of Katapodi in Tumudibandh on Thursday.

In the posters, the Maoists stated that People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) week would be observed in a grand way from December 2 to 8. The banners further urged locals to lend a helping hand to their revolution and opposed Operation Green Hunt.

The rebels have proved their active presence in the block since June this year. A jawan was martyred in a Maoist attack on June 4 at Kanchalaghu ghat. Later, on September 10, an exchange of fire between Maoists and security forces took place in Melsikia forest in which a hardcore woman Naxal was killed. After the incident, DGP R P Sharma visited the area and announced that the anti-Maoist operation will be speeded up.

However, on October 17, Maoists abducted a Gaon Sathi, Basant Bhatta and later, shot him dead. In November, two more Gaon Sathis were abducted by the rebels but were later released. While the abducted Gaon Sathis refused to divulge any details of their ordeal, the police did not take the matter seriously.

On the other hand, the rural populace of the block, who find themselves sandwiched between police and Maoists, have left everything to fate. Adding to their worries, the fresh banners and posters put up by Maoists to observe the foundation week of PLGA has made the situation worse.

Though no senior police official was available for comment, it is learnt that the cops in the district have been alerted to meet any exigency likely to arise during the observation of the PLGA foundation week.

Security beefed up for PLGA foundation week

Malkangiri: Security has been beefed up across the district after posters of Kalimela Regional Committee of CPI (Maoist) were found in Tekguda and Chitrakonda areas on Thursday. The Maoists, in the posters, appealed to people to observe the foundation week of PLGA. On the other hand, the posters have put the district police on its toes.

Surveillance has been strengthened to foil violent activities of Maoists who will observe the PLGA week from December 2 to pay homage to their martyrs killed during encounter with security forces. The police have been put on high alert and combing operations are underway in all sensitive areas along the border. Police sources said anti-Maoist operations are on in full swing with the combined efforts of BSF, SOG and CRPF personnel.

In order to avert any untoward incident, the district police has stepped up joint combing operations with the Central forces. The police have strengthened counter-insurgency operations suspecting a backlash from Maoists during the PLGA week. Additional forces have been deployed in all sensitive places such as Kalimela, MV-79, Motu, Podia, Mathili, Chitrakonda, Govindpalli and Bhejangwada of the district, a police official said.