Security has been tightened in the Maoist attack prone districts of south Odisha as they started their annual People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army week from Sunday.
Ahead of the PLGA week, on December 1 a new Border Security Force camp was established at Pipalpadar of Nakamamudi panchayat in the erstwhile cut-off area of Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district to enhance anti-Maoist operation. With the inauguration of the Gurupriya bridge, the area, now connected with the mainland Odisha by road, is called ‘Swabhiman Anchal’.
With the new camp, total number of BSF camps in this area for anti-Maoist operations has risen to seven.
No OSRTC buses
The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation stopped plying its buses in the Maoist-infested regions. As the PLGA week ends on December 8, the bus services in these areas would resume from December 9 morning, say OSRTC authorities.
The passengers had a hard time in districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada as the OSRTC buses are major conveyance facility. Passenger bus operations have been stopped at Phulbani of Kandhamal district, Paralakhemundi of Gajapati district, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada depots. However, private passenger vehicles continued to operate in these areas.
Since December 2009, when four of its buses were burnt allegedly by the Maoists in Gajapati district, the OSRTC does not operate its buses in such regions during any bandh call or other observations.
Through posters and banners put up in remote areas of Malkangiri and Koraput districts, the Maoists called upon the people to support PLGA week observation.
Poster war
The Anti-Naxal People’s Peace Force, an anti-Maoist organisation of Odisha, has also put up posters at several places against the violent ideology and activities of the Maoists.
Security was tightened in Maoist-prone Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts of south Odisha. No untoward incidents were reported from any part till Sunday evening.
In Malkangiri and Koraput districts, borders with Chhattishgarh and Andhra Pradesh are under strict vigil. Joint combing operations by BSF, SOG and DVF personnel are under way. Checking of vehicles has been intensified with extra watch on suspicious elements.
