High alert sounded in Orissa

Security across Orissa was tightened on Saturday following the killing of police personnel by Maoists who also looted weapons from the district armoury in Nayagarh, police said.

Security was beefed up at important government buildings, including the state assembly, where the budget session was in progress and the secretariat building, they said.

Vehicles were thoroughly checked in the state capital and adjoining Cuttack city where police maintained vigil at vital installations and monitored traffic movement, they said.

The state's borders with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal were sealed to prevent movement of Naxalites, while incoming vehicles were being thoroughly checked to prevent entry of extremists, they said.

Security was beefed up in other Naxal-hit districts including Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundergarh, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar after the attack in Nayagarh, sources said.

A massive combing operation was launched to track down the Naxalites, while police in neighbouring states were also contacted for necessary follow up action, the sources added.