The Maoists began observing the Martyrs’ Week on Monday in memory of their slain comrades. The extremists did not indulge in violence on the first day. However, bus services came to a grinding halt in Malkangiri district. long-route buses to Rayagada, Koraput and Bhawanipatnam were cancelled while some of them were diverted to their destinations through Andhra Pradesh.
“Buses plying in the Jeypore-Bhadrachalam, Jeypore-Motu, Jeypore-Malkangiri, Jeypore-Padia and Bhawanipatna-Motu routes through Malkangiri have been cancelled for a week till August 3,” Jeypore Divisional Manager of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) Rajendra Pujari said.
The district administration of Koraput cancelled 14 buses in the Koraput-Rayagada, Jeypore-Malkangiri, Jeypore-Parvatipuram, Jeypore-Paralakhemundi, Jeypore-Phulbani, Jeypore-Rayagada, Jeypore-Gunupur, Jeypore-Kashipur and Koraput-Gupteswar routes in apprehension of possible attacks by the Red rebels.
Besides, some trains have been diverted and short-terminated for a week. According to JN Majhi, station manager of Koraput station, the Vishakhapatnam-Koraput-Kirandul Passenger train would ply up to Jagdalpur till August 3. Security has been beefed up in the Koraput district headquarters with deployment of security forces at the Sadar police station, traffic square and Housing Board colonies.
Sources said that over 500 personnel comprising the district police, BSF, SOG and CoBRA units have been pressed into action in Nayaranpatna, Bandhugan, lamtaput, Pottangi, Nandapur and Boipariguda areas of the district.