Martyrs’ week of Maoist hits bus services in Koraput, Malkangiri

File image of central forces doing duty in Maoist-hit areas.

Malkangiri: Buses run by Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) stayed off the road in parts of Koraput and Malkangiri district fearing attacks in the wake of observance of martyrs’ week by Maoist beginning Friday.
Commuters, especially in Chitrakonda in Malkangiri and several parts of Koraput, had a harrowing time as buses and other public transport vehicles did not run on these routes.
“Patrolling and combing operations have been intensified. Security personnel from CRPF and BSF have been deployed at strategic places. Besides, intelligence gathering has also been strengthened in the Maoist-hit areas to prevent any untoward incident,” Koraput SP Kanwar Vishal Singh said.
Koraput Yuva Jagran Samiti, a social outfit, had put up posters at several places at Padua in Koraput district earlier in the day urging locals to oppose the martyrs’ week.
The ultras have killed 58 innocent people branding them as police informers in the last seven years, the posters read.