A high alert has been sounded in border districts of Orissa in the wake of Maoists giving a call for a two—day ‘Bharat bandh’ from July 7 against the killing of top leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in Andhra.
The police in south Orissa districts comprising Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati and Koraput were put on high alert as the slain Maoist leader was popular in those areas, said a senior home department official.
“Security personnel in these districts have been asked to keep a tab on sensitive areas during the two—day shutdown by Maoists,” the official said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“All the vehicles entering and leaving Gajapati district were being checked properly,” Deputy Commandant, Special Secuirty Battalion (SSB) K C Panda said.
Police said the ultras set fire to a mobile tower at Chandrapur in Rayagada district last night as a retaliation to the killing of Azad, police said.
The ultras left leaflets at the site cautioning the government against any operation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Besides four districts in southern region, the security personnel in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Sambalpur were also asked to be on alert.