Following arrest of four alleged Maoists two days before the polling for lok Sabha election in Almora on May 7, the district police have stepped up vigil in the areas where Maoists are suspected to be active. The police are also looking into past instances of Maoist activity in the region.
Almora Superintendent of Police AK Bhatt said that with the deployment of adequate police force at sensitive and ultra sensitive areas, the polling in the district was completed peacefully. About a week ago before lok Sabha polling, the police had noticed that someone in Almora had pasted posters and distributed pamphlets exhorting the people to boycott the lok Sabha elections and intensify public struggle. Acting on this, intelligence was put on high alert and a list of few suspects was prepared and their movements were closely monitored by the police.
Acting on a tip-off, police arrested four alleged Maoists who were accused of involvement in the pasting of posters and distribution of pamphlets exhorting the people to boycott the lok Sabha elections and intensify "public struggle" stating that this was "an open system of loot and not democracy". This material had also stated the demand for cancellation of non-bailable warrant against Maoist leaders Kheem Singh Bora and Devendra Chamyal.
Police have been deployed at various places to nab three Maoists who had managed to escape from the scene when a raid was conducted in a house earlier this month.Investigations into putting up of Maoist posters revealed that it was not an act of mischief, as it is suspected that the arrested persons could be part of a Maoist module working in the State.
Bhatt said the arrested persons might have links outside the State. Maoist activities are being considered seriously and security has been stepped up in the region as Panchayat elections in the State are slated to be held in the near future.It should be mentioned here that Uttarakhand police arrested one Communist Party of India (Maoist) leader Almora resident Jeevan Singh Chandra Arya and three party members from Almora Diwan Singh Bisht, Jagdish Ram and Govind Ram on May 6 who for allegedly pasting posters and distributing pamphlets at various places in Almora.