Chhattisgarh steps up security ahead of I-Day

Security has been heightened in 13 of Chhattisgarh's 18 districts following intelligence inputs that Maoists can strike at government and civilian targets ahead of Sunday's Independence Day celebrations, police said today.

Security has been heightened in 13 of Chhattisgarh's 18 districts following intelligence inputs that Maoists can strike at government and civilian targets ahead of Sunday's Independence Day celebrations, police said on Wednesday.

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"Security men redeployment has begun in vulnerable areas and an alert sounded in 13 districts of the state hit by Maoist militancy in wake of reports that Maoists have planned to strike at key government and civilian bases ahead of the Independence Day," a senior officer at the police headquarters in Raipur told the news agency.

He said the 40,000 sq km Bastar region that is made up of five districts - Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur and Kanker - faces the maximum risk of Maoist attacks.

T.J. Longkumer, inspector general of police, Bastar, said patrolling had been increased on forested roads in interiors while combing was also stepped up in areas of Dantewada and Bijapur where rebels are traditionally strong.

Chhattisgarh is known as the nerve centre of Maoists in recent years. In the past three years, the state witnessed 1,948 attacks by the rebels in which 418 civilians and 435 policemen, including 75 Special Police Officers (SPOs), were killed.