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Alert against Maoists sounded in Kandhamal

October 18, 2011 14:26 IST

A high alert has been sounded in all 14 police station areas in Orissa's Kandhamal district following the revelation by an arrested Maoist that an attack by the ultras was being planned.

The Maoist, Jagannath Nayak, was arrested from village Kerubadi under Daringbadi police station five days ago. He has told interrogators that 150 Koya Kondh Maoists from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were being trained in the jungles of Kandhamal for the operation, police sources said.

Following the revelations, police patrols were increased and checking was being carried out at the entry points on the Ganjam and Gajapati border, the sources said.

Kandhmal Superintendent of Police J N Pankaj had earlier said that nearly 200 Maoists from Bihar had entered Kandhmal district about 45 days ago.

At least 20 people have been killed in 24 Maoist attacks in the last four years in the district.

The Maoists have also claimed to have eliminated Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxamananda Saraswati, following which the district witnessed large-scale violence in 2008.

Maoists also attacked a police outpost at Katingia and a forest beat house at Barba village under Balliguda forest division.

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