Security Tightened Along Odisha Border For PLGA Week

Malkangiri/Koraput: With the PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) Week observed by the outlawed CPI-Maoist outfit beginning Sunday, high alert has been sounded along the border of Odisha’s Malkangiri and Koraput districts.

Talking about the security measures, Koraput SP Kanwar Vishal Singh said he had a meeting with the police outposts in-charge officers, IICs of police stations, SDPO, senior officials of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) in this regard.

“All these officials have been asked to remain on high alert. Combing operations in areas of Koraput, adjoining Andhra Pradesh, have been intensified. Apart from this, officials have been posted at tactical points in the district and asked to conduct surprise vehicle checking,” the SP added.

Malkangiri SP Jagmohan Meena said the district police are fully prepared to counter any possible attack by the Maoists. “Alert messages have been sent to all BSF camps and police stations with the instructions to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs). The joint combing operations by BSF, SOG and DVF personnel are underway along the bordering areas of the district to foil the attempt of the Left-wing extremists from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to sneak into Malkangiri,” he added.

While government bus service in Malkangiri district has been completely stopped, some private buses are plying in Kalimela and Chitrakonda blocks. Besides, most trading establishments remained opened in Malkangiri town.

During the PLGA Week, the Maoists conduct meetings and rally in all villages and offer tributes to comrades killed in police encounters. Apart from this, they also induct young men and women into the outfit and construct martyr pillars in the villages to reminisce the sacrifice of the comrades.

The PLGA week is being observed since 2000 from the first anniversary of the killing of three members of its central committee members at Koyyuru forest in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh on December 2, 1999.