Srikakulam : A red alert has been sounded at all police stations, especially vulnerable ones, located along borders with the neighbouring Orissa. This follows an attack on the police station in R. Udayagiri, located in an interior tribal area in Orissa, by more than 100 Maoists who came in two tractors.

According to information reaching the police here, three policemen and three extremists were killed in the encounter in the wee hours of Friday. A Tehsildar, one Sub-Inspector and the Superintendent of sub-jail were kidnapped. More than 25 weapons, including SLRs (self-loading revolvers), were taken away by the Maoists. A number of inmates of the sub-jail were let off. R.Udayagiri is about 80 km from Pathapatnam police station in Srikakulam district.

Security

Speaking to The Hindu , Superintendent of Police A.S. Gurappa said security in all police stations had been strengthened. There are 15 police stations in the district which are vulnerable, Mr. Gurappa said, adding that additional security had been provided to police stations like Battili, Kotturu, Meliaputti, Sitampeta and Mandasa, which are the `most vulnerable'.

On the possibility of Maoists sneaking into Andhra Pradesh after their attack on R.Udayagiri police station in Orissa, Mr. Gurappa said, "We know their routes. They have been sealed. We have so far received no information about them sneaking into our State."

He said that one company each of Andhra Pradesh Special Police and Central Reserve Police Force have been carrying out combing operations along the border. "Security at all stations had been strengthened. We are prepared to face any challenge," Mr. Gurappa asserted.

"Multi-raid"

Our Visakhapatnam Special Correspondent writes:

Police in the three districts bordering Orissa intensified their combing operations following the "multi-raid" by the banned CPI (Maoist) on a police station, sub-jail and other Government offices in R. Udaipur in Orissa on Friday morning.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Visakha Range) N. Madan Mohan left for Srikakulam on Friday to review the situation. "We are in constant touch with our counterparts in Orissa. State police and CRPF in the three districts have been kept on high alert and combing has been intensified," he said.

A high-level meeting with the Orissa police would take place soon, he added.

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About 70 Maoists, including 30 women, were involved in the attack on the police station. They also blasted the local sub-jail, an inspection bungalow and a BSNL tower. Some inmates of the sub-jail escaped after the attack.

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