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Jamshedpur, Sept. 21: Police have stepped up vigil in Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum districts as Naxalites distributed leaflets and put up posters in several places urging people to make successful their “establishment week” celebration starting today.

The rebels distributed leaflets early this morning at number of places in Nimdih and Chandil under Seraikela-Kharsawan district and several areas under Ghorabandha and Ghatshila police stations in East Singhbhum, considered to be Naxalite strongholds.

The leaflets and posters written in Bengali and urging people to join their outfit triggered fear among people. Majority of the villagers, who maintain distance from the rebels, are apprehending trouble during the establishment week celebrations.

“We came to know from posters about the establishment week being celebrated from today. There are unusual activities in Bakrakocha and Gian villages in Ghorabandha in view of the celebration. We apprehend that the rebels may strike in a big way if they hold meeting and camps while observing the establishment week,” said Shanker Chandra Hembram, the president of the anti-extremist outfit, Nagrik Surakshya Samiti.

East Singhbum super- intendent of police Naveen Kumar Singh said the patrolling had been inten- sified in the sensitive areas. “Besides stepping up the security arrangements, I have ensured normal movement of vehicular traffic on National Highway 33,” said the police officer.

“The rebels will not be allowed to hold meeting at any place in my jurisdiction, not even in any cave,” said the superintendent of police.

Intelligence sources said rebels hold meetings and organise camps for days together during the programmes like establishment week.

They also pay homage to the rebels killed in encounters. The naxalites review activities in their respective areas of operation and evaluate the performance of each cadre.

Those found to have performed excellently are felicitated and given promotion. As the rebels flock in large number during occasions such as establishment day, they tend to attack on the police.