Danger lurks

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: High alert was sounded while security was beefed up in Orissa’s Maoist-affected border districts following yesterday's jailbreak at Dantewada in Chhatisgarh.

As many as 299 inmates, of who 105 were Maoist cadre or sympathisers, escaped from the Dantewada prison yesterday evening.

Talking to reporters today, Orissa director-general of police, G.C. Nanda said that a massive combing operation has been launched in forest areas adjoining Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

With intelligence inputs coming in from both the neighbouring states, additional check posts have been erected on all entry points over the border according to available reports, Nanda added.

District armouries and police stations in the Maoist-hit Malkangiri, Koraput, Raygada and Nowrangpur have been fortified. At the same time jails where Maoist leaders and cadre are lodged, has been beefed up.

Malkangiri superintendent of police S. Gajbhiye said all vulnerable points on the border districts, have been sealed after the attack.

Yesterday’s incident have reminded all of the similar attack that occurred on March 24, 2006 when Maoists had laid siege to R Udaygiri town in Gajapati district and had released 40 prisoners from the local jail. The attack left three policemen dead and two injured. The rebels had also looted ammunition from a police camp and abducted the jailer and the station’s officer in charge.

Five Maoists were reportedly killed in the police crossfire and stamp paper, worth Rs 42 lakh stolen at a treasury raid, was destroyed.