Maoists call 2-day ''economic blockade'' in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, June 18 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh government has geared up its machinery in the tribal areas of the state in view of a Maoist call for a two-day ''economic blockade'' from June 26.

''We are taking steps to foil it,'' an official spokesman said after a high-level meeting -- chaired by Principal Secretary (Home) S V Prabhat -- that reviewed preparations to beef up the security in naxalism-affected areas.

The meeting decided to take steps for better coordination between police, the Civil Supplies Department, State Electricity Board, NMDC, Railways, SECL and BRO, which is laying roads in the extremism-affected region.

Besides, the public sector NMDC and SECL would be asked to deploy additional forces to guard their installations, while the state police is also coordinating with counterparts in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to intensify anti-naxal operations on interstate borders.

The government is taking no chance in view of recent rebel attacks on infrastructure in tribal Bastar region, where the ultras caused extensive damage to high-tension transmission lines on May 31. Bastar, which comprises five districts suffered a blackout for almost 10 days after extremists targeted power lines.

CPI (Maoist) cadres stepped up violence in Bastar over the past two years, particularly after locals launched Salwa Judum, which in Gondi dialect means ''peace mission'', to drive out naxals from the region. However, Maoists termed Salwa Judum a state-sponsored campaign.

UNI