Red alert in four naxal-dominated districts in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 (UNI) The Orissa government has sounded red alert in four naxal-hit districts in the wake of more than 100 naxalites escaping from the neighbouring Dantewad jail in Chhattisgarh.

State Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda said the red alert had been sounded in Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Rayagada districts yesterday.

He said special armed forces had been deployed at the bordering villages to prevent the naxalites from sneaking into the state.

A report from Jaipur said the police was on high alert and border areas near the Dantabeda and Bastar districts in Chhattisgarh had been sealed from the Orissa side.

Armed police personnel had been searching everyone entering the state from Chhattisgarh to Padia, Motu, Malkangiri, Boipariguda and Kotpad areas for the past two days.

Senior police officials at the Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur border areas had reviewed the law and order situation to prevent any eventuality.

The security at the jails in Malkangiri and Koraput, where about 200 naxals were lodged, had been beefed up by the authorities fearing any naxal attacks.

UNI