Security up in Orissa ahead of Maoist martyrs week

BHUBANESWAR - Security has been beefed up in insurgency-hit areas of Orissa ahead of the ‘martyrs’ week’ the Maoists are observing from July 28, a police official said Tuesday.

The rebels have put up posters and distributed leaflets in interior pockets of at least three districts such as Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati asking people to join hands with them in the so-called war they have launched against the government and the system.

“We have strengthened police presence in interior areas. Police, security forces and the local administration have been told to remain alert,” the police officer told IANS.

The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist has given the call asking people and its cadres to observe the week in memory of rebel leaders who were killed in battles with security forces.

Charu Majumdar, founder of India’s Maoist movement, had died in police custody July 28 in 1972. ‘Martyr’s week’ is being observed by the guerrillas since then.

Maoist leaflets and posters protesting the killing of one of their top leaders Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad in an alleged shootout July 2 in Andhra Pradesh were found by police a few days ago.

The rebels claim that police killed Azad in a staged gunfight after arresting him in Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Maoists have presence in more then half of the state’s 30 districts. The districts of Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati are considered as their strongholds.