Security forces on high alert

Transportation was badly hit on the first day of the Martyrs’ Week on Saturday with buses between Malkangiri and Jeypore remaining off the road.

There was no vehicular movement between the district headquarters town of Malkangiri to places like Chitrakonda, Kalimela, Motu and Podia.

Unlike in previous years, the Maoists could not block the Govindpalli-Jeypore state highway due to deployment of Border Security Force at Govindpalli ghat area. Though there was no road blockade, no vehicles were seen plying between Malkangiri, Govindpalli and Jeypore. Sources said the OSRTC suspended all bus services on the Malkangiri route till the end of the Week.  Attendance in government offices was thin in Balimela, Korukonda, Khairput, Kalimela, Kudmulgumma, Chitrakonda, Mathili, Govindpalli, Motu, Podia and MV-79. No untoward incident was reported.

Security has been beefed up and police are frisking vehicles at entry and exit points of the district.

Khaprakhol (Balangir): Normal life was affected on Saturday in interior parts of the block in view of the Martyrs’ Week being observed by the Maoists. Markets were closed in response to the call given by Maoists to people to observe the week (July 28 to August 3) in memory of their leaders killed in battles with security forces.  The posters issued by Balangir-Nuapada-Mahasammund Divisional Committee of the CPI (Maoists) were found at many places urging people to observe the week.

Vehicles remained off the road and government offices were closed for the day.

On July 11, the Maoists had killed Sashikant Bhoi, eldest son Khaprakhol block Chairman Ganesh Ram Bhoi.  Police, SOG and CRPF jawans are camping in the block. Balangir SP R Prakash said police were ready to deal with any untoward incident.  No report of violence was received from either Nuapada or Balangir.

PHULBANI: A high alert has been sounded in Kandhamal district in the wake of the  Martyrs’ Week.

Security has been beefed up in the Maoist- infested Kotagarh, Bamunigaon, Daringbadi and Raikia areas.

While security personnel have been deployed at strategic places, patrolling was intensified.

During the Week last year, three police personnel had died in a landmine explosion in Srirampur-Kotagarh road.