Roads to Narayanpatna blocked again

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/04/28/stories/2010042859380300.htm)
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Roads to Narayanpatna blocked again


Staff Reporter



Efforts on to clear road blockades, says SP


BERHAMPUR: Maoists have again cut off Narayanpatna block in Koraput district from outside world.
On Monday night they cut down trees near Palur to block the Narayanpatna-Laxmipur road. It may be noted that on Friday night Maoists had dug up the road and cut down trees to block the Narayanpatna-Bandhugaon road. A road leading to Narayanpatna via Damanjodi has also been dug up at several places.
Maoists have tried to cut off road communication to the area as part of their week-long bandh call in south Orissa against the proposed ‘Operation Greenhunt' against them to be taken up in the area.
The Koraput Superintendent of Police (SP), Anup Sahu said efforts were being made to clear up the road blockades on the roads to Narayanpatna. It may be noted that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have been deployed in this area, which is said to be one of the major strongholds of Maoists in the the State .
On Monday the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), south-west range, Sanjeev Panda, Koraput SP and Collector had reached Narayanpatna block headquarter by helicopter to take note of the situation.
They surveyed the deployment of Central forces in the area and the camps of the BSF. It may be noted that air surveillance by helicopters is continuing in the area against the Maoists.
Narayanpatna block is facing regular road blockades and disruption of telecommunication by the naxals. Earlier this month Maoists had blocked the roads leading to Narayanpatna.
They have again resorted to same antic a few days after the security forces opened up the roads for traffic.
It is alleged most of the time the road clearance work is delayed due to lack of proper cooperation from the Public Works Department and administration to the police for the road clearance work.
The Koraput SP Mr. Sahu said they were providing all possible security cover and the services of bomb disposal squad for the clearance of road blockades, yet the Public Works Department (PWD) was not taking up road clearance work.
The police officials working in the area said with proper cooperation from other departments they could succeed in curbing this continuing menace of road blockades by Maoists in Narayanpatna area.
But they are yet to get that timely cooperation from the public works department.
It was alleged that engineers of the department were reluctant to reach out to the area due to threat of Maoists.






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