4 dists in southern belt report violence-free Martyrs' Week
DIG (south-western range) Kanwar Vishal Singh said that no untoward incident was reported throughout the week. "Presently, the situation is under control. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. Security forces remain on high alert to deal with any Maoist threat," he added.
Celebrated annually from July 28 to August 3 by the outlawed CPI (Maoist), Martyrs Week commemorates the death of Naxalite ideologue Charu Majumdar, who died in police custody on July 28, 1972.
The period is typically marked by a spike in Maoist propaganda activities, including the erection of temporary martyr pillars, cultural programmes in remote forested areas and public addresses promoting the group's ideology, particularly in tribal regions.
To counter any Maoist activity, extensive security arrangements were made across the four districts, with particular focus on areas bordering Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
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In Malkangiri, considered one of the worst Maoist-affected districts, SP Vinod Patil said that all police stations were on high alert, with additional forces deployed to sensitive areas.
Koraput and Nabarangpur also witnessed intensified patrolling, especially in regions close to the Chhattisgarh border. "The northern part of Nabarangpur remains a focus area for us and extra deployment has been made to thwart any Maoist movement," Singh added.
Though no Maoist posters or banners related to the observance were found this year, police said that vehicles entering the region were thoroughly frisked throughout the week to prevent infiltration or arms movement.
Police said that surveillance and anti-Maoist operations would continue even after the culmination of Martyrs Week.
Round-the-clock monitoring and coordinated action will remain in force to ensure lasting peace in the region, the DIG said.
On Sunday, a landmine explosion allegedly triggered by Maoists killed one railway employee and wounded another while they were conducting track inspection in Sundargarh district, along the Odisha-Jharkhand border, police said. Posters were recovered near the damaged track with Maoists claiming responsibility for the attack.
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