Security beefed up on Orissa-Jharkhand border

Baripada, Feb 2 (UNI) Security has been beefed up in the entire Orissa-Jharkhand border area adjoining Mayurbhanj district following the killing of the two forest guards and one forester in Dhenkanal district on January 31 last.

Mayurbhanj Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant said combing operations were being undertaken at all vulnerable entry points to prevent the Maoists from sneaking into Mayurbhanj district.

Meanwhile, the incident in Kandhar forest beat under Kamakshyanagar (East) range in Dhenkanal district has triggered panic among the field staff, stationed in the densely forested areas including Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj.

Orissa Non-gazetted Forest Services Association president Sanyasi Behera said the ill-equipped field staff of the forest department apprehended that they would now be facing the twin threats of attacks from the Red radicals and the timber smugglers.

Referring to the compensation of Rs four lakh announced for the next of kin of the murdred forest officials in Dhenkanal, Association Secretary Niranjan Pratihari said that there should not be any discrimination in the quantum of compensation paid to the police and forest officials in such cases.

The state government had been providing Rs ten lakh to the next kin of the police officials killed by the naxalites.

Mr Pratihari further said that forest officials stationed in the Maoist infested areas should be provided with a ''Special Package'', including special protection.

UNI