Odisha Police issues alert in districts bordering Chhattisgarh

The Odisha Police Tuesday issued an alert in the districts bordering Chhattisgarh after two landmines were recovered in the state and naxals killed a BJP MLA and four security personnel in the neighbouring state. Two landmines were recovered by the police in Gajapati district barely 48-hours before the first phase of polling in Odisha's four Lok Sabha seats and 28 Assembly constituencies on April 11.

Odisha DGP BK Sharma issued an advisory to all the Superintendents of Police to remain on alert and suggested to the candidates not to undertake election campaigning after sunset in Maoist hit areas. The DGP also asked leaders of different political parties to keep the local police informed about their tour plans.

The Odisha Police issued the advisory within minutes of the killing of five persons including an MLA in Dantewada area of Chhattishgarh. "We have taken required security measures to provide necessary protection for all the voters," Sharma said.

A team of security personnel during patrolling recovered a 50-kg landmine from under a bridge at Adabaa in Gajapati district on Tuesday. "The security personnel spotted the landmine planted under a culvert. The explosive was likely to have been planted by Naxalites to disrupt election process," Gajapati SP Sara Sharma told reporters.

The police have been extra vigil because the first phase of polling will be held in the districts like Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur where Maoist activities have been frequent.

(With inputs from agencies.)