Tight security in south Odisha jails

BERHAMPUR: Security has been tightened in 27 jails of southern Odisha, where Maoists are housed in the wake of series of attacks by Left-wing ultras in Chhattisgarh and reported abduction of seven persons from Malkangiri district on Tuesday.
Altogether 115 Red rebels are lodged in 10 different jails in southern Odisha. Highest number of 69 are in Malkangiri jail followed by Bhanjanagar (10), Paralakhemundi and Phulbani (nine each), Gunupur (six), Berhampur, Sorada and Rayagada (three each), BissamCuttack and Koraput have two and one respectively.
Among them are some hardcore extremists like Ghasi, founder of Odisha Maobadi Party Sabyasachi Panda, Nikita, Sushanti, D Anita and Shanti. "We have alerted respective jail superintendents following intelligence inputs. We have asked them to coordinate with local police to strengthen security measures after repeated incidents in Chhattisgarh," said DIG (prisons), Berhampur, G B Mallick. Jail authorities have also been asked to keep an eye on people visiting the jail, he added.
Police apprehend that Left-wing ultras might influx into the state and attack establishments, particularly jails, to release their cadres following the intensive search operation in the neighbouring state.
On March 24, 2006, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) cadres simultaneously attacked a police station, jail and Odisha State Armed Police camp at R Udayagiri in Gajapati district and freed some inmates.