Kandhamal: High alert as Maoists sneak in

PHULBANI: Kandhamal district is on high alert from Thursday amidst reports of hundreds of Red rebels having entered the district from the neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, a few days back. They are on a mission to create disturbances, said SP JN Pankaj, adding this was revealed by the four Maoists arrested by the police at  Baimela check gate along Kandhamal-Ganjam border near Daringbadi, two days back. They were coming from Sorada on motorcycles.The arrested have been identified as Kapila Pradhan (24), Jitendra Pradhan (22), Dharmendra Pradhan (20) of Baden Pipila and Prakash Pradhan of Baimela village under Daringbadi police limits. Maoist literatures and `1 lakh were seized from their possession. They have been forwarded to  court. Two members of the central committee M.Balakrishna alias Manoj and Chetan alias Debji are here to arrange vehicles, money and manpower for the purpose, the SP said.Besides, Chhattisgarh Maoist cadre Rahim and his wife are also in the district to inquiry into the allegations of sexual harassment against female cadres in the camps. Meanwhile, Special Operation Group jawans and Orissa Police have intensified patrolling in Phulbani, Raikia and Daringbadi.  Vehicles are being checked and people of the district have been asked to inform police about unidentified and non-Oriya speaking persons.Patnagarh: Even as reports are being received about the Maoist infiltration from Chhattisgarh into Balangir, four platoons of SOG personnel have started combing operation in Sapmud, Beherapani and Khuripani in Khaprakhol block of the district. Empty cartridges have been found from these areas. Sources said the Maoists who are moving in the districts of Nuapada, Balangir and Kalahandi besides parts of Chhattisgarh adjoining Nuapada, belong to the newly formed Mahasamund-Bargarh division.The Maoists have found a safe haven in Khaprakhol block of the district because of its strategic location between Nuapada on one side and Paikmal in Bargarh district on the other. This makes their movement easy.