Koraput: The district police administration has spread a thick security blanket over Maoist-dominated Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts as rebels will observe the Martyrs Week from Saturday to mark the 46th death anniversary of Naxalite leader Charu Majumdar.

Additional forces have been deployed in border areas of the districts sharing boundary with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

"Security has been beefed up across the three districts and our counter-insurgency operations have been intensified," said deputy inspector general (south-western range) Ashish Singh.

The police in Malkangiri has been kept on toes as intelligence reports have revealed that the Maoists may try to attack the Gurupriya bridge, which was inaugurated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday, to provide communication to the 151 villages, which had remained cut-off for the past five decades, during their observation period.

On Friday, the police recovered several posters and banners put up by the Maoists urging people to observe the Martyrs Week in Malkangiri and Koraput districts.

"At present, the situation is under control. But, we can't be complacent. All necessary security arrangements have been taken to thwart any Maoist attack," said Koraput superintendent of police Kanwar Vishal Singh.

He said additional forces had been deployed in the Maoist-hit areas of Lamatapur, Machkund, Nandapur, Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon and Pottangi in the district.

In another development, fearing Maoist attack the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation has decided to suspend its service on at least 16 routes in the three districts during the Martyrs Week.

Herd attack

A herd of wild elephants ravaged croplands and damaged at least six houses on Thursday evening at Shankarpur village under Champua forest range. Twenty-five forest personnel rushed to the spot and stepped up vigil to chase away the animals.