Bhubaneswar, December 04 (Odisha.in) A group of suspected Maoists allegedly appeared in a populated area of Bhubaneswar-Orissa’s capital city and police said they spent sleepless night to search them but without success.
Local residents informed police that they spotted around two people moving suspiciously late Tuesday night near the Behera sahi area of the city. Orissa capital Bhubaneswar is nearer to Chandaka wild life sanctuary.
The residents late night told police that the people whom they believe may be suspected extremists were wearing masks and jackets and ran into the near by Chandaka forest.
“Armed policemen launched combing operation in the area whole night but did not locate them” deputy commissioner of police Himanshu Kumar Lal told Odisha.in adding that force deployed in the area are still combing.
The appearance of suspected Maoists have created panic among the residents in the capital city because locals had on Sunday spotted posters plastered allegedly by the left wing extremists in the walls in the same area.
The posters were asking people to refrain from joining groups which were allegedly involved in religious violence.
The posters had described some Hindu groups (such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal) as rioters and warned people of dire consequences if they joined such groups.
Increasing Maoist-related violence over the past few years has become a major cause of concern for the government with officials expressing helplessness in tackling the situation.
The rebels have their influence in at least 15 of the state’s 30 districts.
Odisha.in