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Maoist footsteps being heard on borders?

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Footsteps of Maoists are suspected to be heard in border areas of Ganjam and Kandhamal districts of south Orissa.

It is suspected that naxals are trying to make their presence felt in Ganjam district by making their entry from two sides.

On one side Ganjam borders the naxal-infested Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Although they have not yet resorted to any violence in Kandhamal district, Maoists have their presence in Kandhamal district for the last few years.

As the Maoists want to increase their bases in coastal districts of Orissa, it is suspected that they are trying to enter Ganjam district from Kandhamal district.

The border region of Ganjam and Kandhamal districts are already on high alert. According to sources movements of small Maoist groups are being reported from this area. All police stations in Ganjam district in this region have been made alert regarding this.

Some suspected Maoist movements were reported from remote areas of Bhanjanagar, Bargarh, Sorada, Mujagarh, Baibili, Tarsing etc of Ganjam district close to Kandhamal border.

The dense jungles and hard terrain of this region is conducive for the safe movement of ultras.

Dhoba Gouda, the sarpanch of Mujagarh panchayat however said the Maoists had not yet tried to make direct contacts with the local tribals living in remote areas.

But Inspector in-charge of Bhanjanagar police station, Prabhat Chadra Panigrahi said they had become extra alert with increased patrolling in these areas.

Recently the Ganjam district police urged deployment of more force in the area. Ganjam SP R.K.Sharma says they are planning extra patrolling and public relation drives in remote tribal pockets of the area to keep tribals away from the propaganda of Maoists.

The district administration has also proposed awareness building drives about developmental projects in the area.

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