Even as outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Tuesday began observing its military wing Peoples’ Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA)’s foundation week, security has been further tightened in Bastar region and particularly around places where electronic voting machines (EVMs) are kept after the last month’s Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.

“EVMs from 12 constituencies of Naxalite-hit Bastar region and other Maoist-prone Assembly segments have been kept under a tight security cover at different places as counting of votes are scheduled for December 8. A close vigil is being maintained at these places as Maoist rebels are observing the PLGA’s foundation week from December 2 to 8,” police sources said.

Security forces are not ready to take any chance till the completion of counting as it is being felt that the Maoist rebels could resort to any aggressive step during this week as they had failed to create any significant trouble during the polling because of heavy presence of security personnel, including paramilitary forces.

Meanwhile, Maoist posters and banners have surfaced at many places in South Bastar, levelling allegations of atrocities on the poor in the guise of anti-Naxalite campaign and exhorting the people to join the efforts to make the foundation week a success. Daily bus service from Jagdalpur to Hyderabad has been affected while passenger train service from Jagdalpur-Kirandul-Vishakhapattanam has been cancelled as precautionary measures.

Road traffic in the remote areas of Dantewada, Bijapur and Narayanpur districts were affected as the Naxalites felled trees to disrupt traffic at many places since Sunday last. Power supply to more than 250 villages of Bhairamgarh, Bhopalpattanam and Usur blocks in Bijapur district was affected as electric poles were uprooted due to the felling of trees.

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