Sukma Naxal attack: Madhya Pradesh on high alert; Odisha seals border with Chhattisgarh

In the wake of the Maoist attack in which 25 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed, the Madhya Pradesh and Odisha police have sealed their borders and issued a high alert in the Naxal-affected areas.

As the apprehensions are high that Maoists’ movement could be observed in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat region and Odisha’s Malkangiri district after a day of carnage, the senior police officials informed that the security has been scaled up in the regions to curb any influx in their respective states.

“The areas under Balaghat police range are bordering with the Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. So, we have put the security forces on high alert,” Inspector General (Balaghat Range) G Janadan told.

He said the patrolling along the borders has been intensified to check the activities of Naxals.

“This area has also been Naxal-affected and the police has intensified patrolling at the borders of Kawardha and Rajnandgaon districts of Chhattisgarh and Gondia district of Maharashtra,” Janardan added.

Also Read: Rajnath asks CRPF to submit five reports on Sukma Naxal attack; para military force taking considerable retaliatory action

On the other hand, Odisha DGP K B Singh said despite the Maoist ambush took place about 45 km from Malkangiri on Monday and close to Maharashtra border, the Odisha Police deployed its elite anti-Maoist Special Operation Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF) and jawans of the CRPF.

In the fierce gunfire from Maoist guerrillas occupying vantage positions, at least 25 CRPF personnel were killed and seven wounded.

The Naxalites mounted the assault in the Kalapathar area of south Bastar region, where Left-Wing extremism is rampant.

This was the deadliest guerrilla attack on security forces in the state so far this year. 

Also Read | 25 CRPF jawans killed in deadly Naxal attack in Sukma: Here's how it happened