PLGA week from today, high alert in Maoist zone

December 3, 2016 Redspark Team

KORAPUT: Against the background of security personnel belonging to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh gunning down 30 Maoists during a fierce encounter in the cut-off area of Malkangiri district on October 24, the Maoists are going to observe the PLGA (Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) week from Friday.

Police have strengthened counter-insurgency operations suspecting a backlash from the Maoists during the PLGA week.

“At present, the situation is normal. However, we can’t be complacent. The Maoists may try to launch offensives and our forces have been kept on high alert to avoid any eventuality,” said SP (Malkangiri) Mitrabhanu Mohapatra.

Top Maoist leaders like B K Ramana, alias Ganesh, and Samala Kistayya, alias Daya, were among the 30 killed in the exchange of fire.

This apart, over a dozen divisional committee members and area committee members were killed in the October 24 encounter which has weakened the Red organisation in the Andhra-Odisha border areas.

Unlike earlier years, this year no Maoist poster or banner was found across the district through which the ultras urge people to observe the PLGA week by keeping vehicles off roads and business establishments closed.

Intelligence sources said the rebels have planned a meeting in the cut-off region during the PLGA week to show their strength and over 1,000 villagers are expected to attend the meeting.

“We are closely monitoring the developments in the cut-off region and necessary security arrangements have been taken to avoid entry of Maoists from bordering Andhra into Malkangiri,” the SP said.

The banned outfit has been observing the PLGA week in memory of slain cadres Nalla Adi Reddy, alias Syam, Murali and Naresh, who were killed in an encounter at Koyyuru in Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh in 2000. During the week, the extremists usually focus on recruitment and pay tributes to the slain cadres.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/PLGA-week-from-today-high-alert-in-Maoist-zone/articleshow/55742913.cms