I-Day: High alert in Red zone

Koraput/Berhampur: Suspecting Maoist offensives during the Independence Day celebrations, police have sounded a high alert in the Maoist-hit Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts as each year the Red rebels observe the day as Black Day.
Police said while combing operations in collaboration with the BSF have been intensified, additional forces have been deployed at vulnerable points to avert any violence.
"All police stations have been kept on high alert and necessary precautionary measures taken to avoid any untoward incident," said SP (Koraput) C S Meena.
On Saturday, a joint team of Odisha police and BSF during combing operation had recovered at least five landmines and two guns abandoned by the Maoists from the Musulmuda forest under Narayanpatna police limits.
Police have started frisking vehicles entering into the Ultra-hit districts and border areas are under strict vigil to stop possible influx of guerillas from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
Sources in Malkangiri said the Red rebels while conducting village meetings at Poplur, Kurmanur, Bodigeta and in several pockets of Kalimela and Podia blocks have urged people not to hoist the Tricolour at educational institutions and government offices.
"The situation is under control. We are prepared to face any eventuality," said SP (Malkangiri) Mitrabhanu Mohapatra.
Rayagada SDPO Y Jagannath Rao said no Maoist poster or banner was spotted till Sunday evening and anti-Maoist operations have been intensified in Kashipur and Niyamgiri areas.
A report from Berhampur said security has been tightened in South Odisha. "We have deployed adequate forces in the Maoist-infested Kandhamal, Boudh and Gajapati districts.
The vehicle checking has started in the border areas of the districts and police have kept strict vigil on the movement of suspicious elements," said inspector general of police (southern range) Amitabh Thakur.
He did not spell out the exact number of forces deployed in the districts. "We have deployed adequate forces to ensure peaceful observation of the Independence Day," he added.
Official sources said more number of forces are deployed in Kandhamal district, where five innocent villagers were killed near Gumudumaha on July 8 during an alleged crossfire between security forces and Maoists.
The security forces had recovered a 40-kg landmine from a jungle near Adava in Gajapati district recently.