By IANS,
Raipur : Security has been beefed up and Chhattisgarh put on high alert after Maoists rebels’ call to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations Monday.
“A massive security blanket has been thrown in the state including the Bastar region,” a senior police officer posted in the special intelligence branch Pawan Deo told IANS.
He said about 60,000 police personnel and para-military troopers have been put on high alert.
“Extra CRPF troopers have been deployed in various areas and government facilities such as school buildings and offices vulnerable to Maoist attacks,” he added.
After five rebels were killed in a shootout in the state’s violence-hit Bastar region Saturday, security has been further stepped up mainly around government installations in the interiors where rebels are dominant since 1980s.
The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) gave a call to boycott the Republic Day functions in the state and asked people of their stronghold Bastar region to stay away from the celebrations.