Martyrs Week: Malkangiri cut off

MALKANGIRI: Transportation was badly hit in Malkangiri district with the beginning of the Martyr’s Week on Thursday. There was no vehicular movement between the district headquarters town of Malkangiri to places like Chitrakonda, Kalimela, Motu and Podia.  Unlike in previous years, the Maoists could not block the Govindpalli-Jeypore state highway due to deployment of Border Security Force at Govindpalli ghat area. Though there was no road blockade, no vehicles were seen plying between Malkangiri, Govindpalli and Jeypore. Sources said the OSRTC suspended all bus services on Malkangiri route till the end of Martyr’s Week.Attendance in government offices was thin in Balimela, Korukonda, Khairput, Kalimela, Kudmulgumma, Chitrakonda, Mathili, Govindpalli, Motu, Podia and  MV-79. A top Maoist leader of Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee unveiled a huge martyr’s dome at Madkapadar village under Khairput police limits on Thursday morning in the presence of hundreds of villagers. The villagers led by armed rebels took out a procession from the village outskirts before converging at the martyr’s dome.Around 20 temporary and permanent pylons were also unveiled at Bhejangiwada, Khairput, Kalimela, Motu and Podia regions.Alert has been sounded at sensitive places and combing operation is on.KORAPUT: Maoists put up banners and posters in several villages across the district calling people to support their cause. All the schools in Lamtaput block remained closed. Government buses from Jeypore to Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur were diverted to ply through Andhra Pradesh.