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Araku Utsav may be called off
Highlights
The State government is in two minds over organising Araku Festival on December 27, along with the Visakha Utsav, due to the increased activities of the Maoists. The police and Maoists exchanged fire in Araku Valley in the Agency on Friday and the police have earlier confirmed influx of over 500 Maoists from Chhattisgarh to spur the anti-bauxite agitation in the Agency.
Visakhapatnam: The State government is in two minds over organising Araku Festival on December 27, along with the Visakha Utsav, due to the increased activities of the Maoists. The police and Maoists exchanged fire in Araku Valley in the Agency on Friday and the police have earlier confirmed influx of over 500 Maoists from Chhattisgarh to spur the anti-bauxite agitation in the Agency.
Superintendent of police Dr Koyya Praveen said there was an increased activity of the Maoists near Araku Valley, Vizianagaram and some pockets close to the Odisha border. It was for this reason, a joint combing operation was taken up on Thursday which resulted in exchange of fire.
Asked about the Araku Valley Utsav, the Superintendent of Police said the police would provide heavy security to the political leaders, but denied recommending its cancellation. lice sources said the festival would also cause entry of Maoists from other States in guise of tourists.
On the other hand, the CPI-Maoist already gave a call to the people in the Agency area to observe 'protest week' from December 21 and a bandh on December 26 against the State and Central governments' move to take up bauxite mining in the Agency area. A press release was sent to the Agency reporters by secretary of CPI-Maoist's AOBSZC Chandramouli urging the people to take up arms to assert their rights over the forest.
He further stated in a press release that temporary stalling of GO No. 97 that facilitated bauxite mining in Jerrela area was a ploy of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to douse the anger of people and to buy time to increase the attacks on the people and to dump more police forces.
Our Bureau
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