Maoists bandh: security beefed up in south Orissa

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/12/08/stories/2009120855090300.htm)
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Maoists bandh: security beefed up in south Orissa


Staff Reporter

ECoR reschedules Bhubaneswar –Koraput Hirakhand Express
BERHAMPUR: Security was beefed up in naxal prone areas of south Orissa due to bandh call by Maoists on Tuesday.
The authorities of ‘East Coast Railways’ have also decided to make changes in the route of the Hirakhand Express for the day. As per the railway authorities these changes were made keeping in view the security of the passengers. The Hirakhand express connects Bhubaneswar and Koraput. It passes through some major naxal-affected areas in Rayagada district of Orissa and Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
As per the railway officials, the Koraput bound Hirakhand Express was not allowed to travel up to Koraput on Monday.
Its journey was terminated at Rayagada station. This train is scheduled to start its return journey for Bhubaneswar from Rayagada station at 10.55 pm on Monday night. It would not take up its usual route via Vizianagaram. It would travel to Bhubaneswar via Muniguda, Titilagarh, Sambalpur. The Koraput bound Hirakhand express, which would start from Bhubaneswar station on Monday night would be halted at Vizianagaram station till 4.30 am after its arrival at the station for security reasons. The railway authorities have avoided the train to travel via the Maoist prone region up to Rayagada during darkness of night. This train would terminate its journey at Rayagada and would not travel to Koraput.
The authorities are extra cautious about this Maoist bandh call as it coincides with the last day of their observation of People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) week. The Maoists have given this bandh call in support of the controversial Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) and in protest against the police firing on CMAS activists at Narayanpatna in Koraput district on Dec 20. Two CMAS activists had been killed in the police firing.
Police are on high alert in naxal-hit areas of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati and Koraput districts. The security personnel are extra vigilant as the naxals have not been able to resort to any violent activity during their PLGA week till Monday and they may try to show up their violent fangs during their bandh call.
Security has been tightened in the Narayanpatna block of Koraput district, which has been under the shroud of naxal and CMAS violence since the start of the year.
Forty platoons of police force are already stationed in the Narayanpatna block. Security has also been tightened in adjoining Padua, Bandhugaon and Baipariguda blocks which have naxal presence.


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