Andhra cadres eyeing border areas

BERHAMPUR: The Wednesday gunbattle between security forces and Maoists in Barimunda forest along Ganjam-Kandhamal border and seizure of literature in Telugu hinted at presence of Bansadhara division of CPI (Maoist) cadres in the region.
Police suspect the division is trying to strengthen its base in the border areas after the arrest of homegrown Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda from Berhampur on July 17.The Andhra cadres were reportedly active in Rayagada and Ganjam districts.
"We are investigating which group of the outlawed outfit was involved in the exchange of fire," said a senior police officer. Though police had information about movement of Chhattisgarh cadres near Kandhamal-Boudh border about a month ago, ultras were spotted for the first time in a forest near Tarsingi in Ganjam district. Police and Maoists were engaged in an exchange of fire in Kantra forest of Boudh on June 28.
Besides Maoist literature in Telugu and Odia, police seized an SLR, two magazines and 30 rounds of ammunition from the camp in Ganjam forest. "There were about three to four ultras in the camp," said SP (Gajapati) Satyajit Nayak.
"Combing operations along Ganjam-Kandhamal border and some interior pockets of Kandhamal have been intensified after the incident," said SP (Kandhamal) K V Singh.