Following information that Maoists are planning to disrupt the simultaneous lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State in their stronghold of southern and western Odisha which go to polls on April 10, the local police and the Central paramilitary forces have intensified their combing operations in the undivided Koraput district.
“We have reports that leftwing ultras, including top cadres from Andhra Pradesh, are planning strategic moves somewhere inside the Mungudavalsa forest along the Koraput-Andhra Pradesh border to disrupt the poll process,” Koraput SP Awinash Kumar told the media on Thursday.
He said the combing operations have been intensified further in the district with deployment of fresh batches of Central forces.
Referring to the killing of two hardcore Maoists in an encounter with the security personnel at Pottangi a couple of days ago, Kumar said the presence of some top cadres, present at the time of encounter in the area, cannot be ruled out.
It may be mentioned that the security personnel had gunned down Mala Sanjeeva alias Yadana and Epe Swamy of Andhra Pradesh, during crossfire in the Mungudavalsa forest on Tuesday.
In Bhubaneswar, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mona Sharma had told the media on Wednesday that the State would seek additional Central forces for smooth conduct of the elections in the Maoist-dominated areas.
There are 89 companies of Central paramilitary forces deployed in the State at present.