Even as security forces are on a high alert in view of the Maoists Martyrs’ Week, the Red rebels in a daring bid organised a camp on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on Saturday.
The Maoist camp,
held at the border of Ralegada panchayat in Odisha’s Malkangiri and Andhra Pradesh’s Korukunda, was attended by over 600 rebel leaders and sympathisers of nearby panchayats and was supervised by top Maoist Rabana, sources said.
In the camp, said to be organised by the Odisha-Andhra Border Zonal Committee of the Maoists, the leaders strongly opposed the Gurupriya bridge that was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 26.
The ultras are opposing the bridge claiming that it will act against the interests of tribals in the erstwhile cutoff region of Malkangiri district. The bridge has rather opened a new avenue for minerals looters active in Odisha, the rebels claimed.
Besides, the Maoists through posters in Kandhamal, Koraput, and Bargarh districts have urged people to extend support to the Martyrs’ Week.
Meanwhile, the operation of Government bus services to Malkangiri and Rayagada districts remained suspended as a precautionary measure on the second day of the Maoists Martyrs’ Week on Sunday.