Bhubaneswar, Nov. 4: Security in Rayagada district was beefed up today following an encounter between Maoists and security forces in Paniganda forests close to the Andhra Pradesh border. Reports from the area said three rebels had sustained injuries in the exchange of fire.

Though police refused to divulge details of the encounter, sources said efforts were being made to seal the district’s border with Andhra Pradesh to prevent the rebels from sneaking in from there.

The place of the encounter, located in the Munikhol gram panchayat area of Rayagada, was being searched by CRPF and state police jawans at the time of filing this report. The district is a known Maoist stronghold and the rebels operating there have forged close links with their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. This is what worries senior police officials.

Sources said the temporary lull in Maoist activities in Rayagada following the surrender of rebel commander Dunna Keshav Rao, alias Azad, was over. The rebels in the district had not only stepped up their activities, but were also trying to penetrate into newer areas.

“Rayagada is strategically located. Having entrenched themselves here, the Maoists are now trying to push towards Kandhamal on the one hand and Kalahandi on the other. We must remember that a major alumina refinery is located in Kalahandi which can be targeted by the rebels,” said an official.

Attacks by Maoists on mines and industrial units are not unknown. A few years ago, they had raided a bauxite mine in Koraput district and gunned down 10 Central Industrial Security Force jawans.