Berhampur: Security has been beefed up and combing operation intensified in Maoist-hit southern Odisha districts in view of the Naxalites deciding to observe 'Martyr's Week' from tomorrow.
With Odisha Maobadi Party Chief Sabyasachi Panda behind bars, the police fear influx of CPI (Maoist) cadres from neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Andhra-Pradesh to these districts during this week.
"Additional forces have been deployed in vulnerable areas of Kandhamal, Boudh, Ganjam and Gajapati," DIG (southern range), Amitabh Thakur, said.
Police have tracked movement of Chhattisgarh cadres in these areas during combing operations in the past. On Friday, eight Maoist camps were destroyed at Pangabaju Reserve Forest along Kalahandi-Kandhamal border and huge quantities of ration, uniform and Maoist literature seized.
Meanwhile, the police found two bodies of suspected Maoists from the site of yesterday's exchange of fire between them and the ultras at Muduguda Reserve Forest in Kandhamal district.
"We have recovered two bullet-ridden bodies from the site at Muduguda reserve forest bordering Kalahandi district," Kandhamal SP K B Singh said.
"Vehicles entering the district are being checked and all police stations have been asked to keep a watch on suspicious elements," said Singh.
Security forces have been put on high alert, SP (Ganjam) Narsingh Bhol said.