Security tightened in Narayanpatna

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/01/29/stories/2010012952890300.htm)
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Security tightened in Narayanpatna


Staff Reporter



Police on alert after the arrest of Gananath Patra


BERHAMPUR: Security was intensified in Narayanpatna block of Koraput district following the arrest of Gananath Patra, the adviser of controversial Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS).
Mr. Patra was arrested in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. He was taken in remand from the Bhubaneswar court by the Koraput police on Thursday. Police is cautious in Narayanpatna block, the active zone of CMAS as police alleges that this organisation has backing of the Maoists. The Koraput Superintendent of Police (SP), Anup Sahu said Mr. Patra has at least six serious cases pending against him in Koraput district which includes a case of murder and two cases of attempted murder. Patra is also alleged to be having Maoist links. So, security forces are on their toes in Narayanpatna area.
It may be noted that communication remains disrupted in Narayanpatna block since past one week. The calls for economic blockade on two days and bandh on Republic Day were the reason behind it. Although most roads of the block have been cleared of obstacles, yet the Narayanpatna-Laxmipur road still remains cut off. Mr. Sahu said. Maoists had dug up the road at two places and had cut down trees at seven places. The road is being cleared with the help of bomb disposal squads.
Two landmine blasts had occurred on the same road during past week. Four civilians including two women had been killed by Maoists in a landmine blast as they had given lift to policemen in their vehicle.
Along with the road Maoists had also cut down the underground optical fibres at several places to disrupt the communication network completely in the block. Their landmine blasts had also destroyed optical fibres of the communication network. Telecommunication in the area remains disrupted till now. In this situation the security personnel are extra cautious as they feel arrest of Patra may lead to some mischief by his alleged Maoist supporters. It may be noted that there was a spurt of Maoist violence in the State during past week following the arrest of Subhashree alias Mili Panda, the wife of top Maoist leader of Orissa, Sabyasachi Panda.
According to Mr. Sahu all roads in Narayanpatna block are under constant vigil and all villages where CMAS was active are being regularly patrolled by security personnel to avoid reorganisation of the ‘Ghenua Bahini’ the militant wing of the CMAS following the arrest of Mr. Patra. It may be noted that the chief of CMAS Nachika Linga is still absconding.






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