Intelligence worries as Maoists bee line to Gajapati

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): The recent detection of an unexploded bomb on the Khariguda-Bachipank road under the Mohona block of Gajapati district under the Southern Police range has alerted the police administration, who was under the impression that radical activities in this Maoists infected district had been under control. Mohona block is a part of the Assembly Constituency of Energy and Culture Minister Surya Narayan Patro while the rebels are reported to have warned the Minister Patro for dire consequence. The detection of this unexploded bomb is bound to create a scare as this road is on the important Berhampur-Mohona-Adava-Rayagada State Highway No-117. This is the shortest link from South Orissa to the State Capital here in Bhubaneswar. Most of the Ministers and top officials, who did not prefer helicopters, are using this road to visit the cholera affected regions of the district and after the incident, both police and intelligence officials are seemed worried. However, the local police reported to have advised Minister Patro not to move in these areas without full security. The Adava police had organised a health camp at the Karuna village during the day and district Collector DV Swamy and several other officials were touring the cholera affected villages, when the mine was detected. According to sources, the police were given a tip about a wire protruding along this State Highway by an anonymous caller and using a deep search metal detector and sniffer dogs the 3 kg metal box. Initially, police suspected a landmine but it turned out to be a remote control device. The persons, who would have activated the same, had fled after sensing the CRPF movement in the same locality. Investigation officials however denied revealing more on this. Meanwhile, the police agreed that the Bansadhara Regional Committee and the Kondavidi Dalam, who are part of Andhra-Orissa Border Gurilla Forces, have moved in to the Gajapati district and have already penetrated the Gumma, Nuagada and Mohona block. The presence of rebels in these blocks has been confirmed by the intelligence sleuths.