Maoists Uproot Rly Tracks, Set Buses Afire In Areas Bordering Malkangiri

Malkangiri: After a brief lull, the Maoists are making their presence felt in areas bordering Malkangiri district. The ultras allegedly uprooted railway tracks and torched three vehicles in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday night.

According to sources, a major mishap was averted on the route as the railway authorities spotted the damaged track near Kamalur station in Dantewada and stopped a passenger train. It was a close shave for the passengers as the train was moving at a low speed.

In another incident, a group of ultras reportedly set afire two houses and a truck at Bacheli in Dantewada district. They asked the passenger to get off the buses, which was on its way to Jagdalpur from Dantewada, and later set the vehicles on fire.

On Wednesday, a high alert was sounded in Malkangiri district to prevent possible influx of Maoists from Chhattisgarh, where security forces gunned down 15 ultras the previous day.

“After an exchange of fire, Maoists usually flee to safe locations. Since Malkangiri shares boundary with Chhattisgarh, the rebels may try to sneak into our territory,” Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena had said.

The areas near the encounter site have been sealed and additional security forces deployed, the SP said.

“The vehicles entering into the district are being frisked and patrolling has also been intensified in the vulnerable areas,” he added.