Baripada: Panic gripped residents of villages under Jharpokharia police limits in Mayurbhanj district after posters of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army were found in the area.

The area is close to the Jharkhand border and has was a hotbed of rebel activities in the past. The posters, written in Odia and Hindi, were also seen at Asti, Kasiabeda and Muchurisolo under Ghodabandh police limits in Jharkhand, police sources said.

The posters condemned police activities, including Operation Green Hunt, and appealed for more people to join the organisation.

"The posters were pasted on trees. We seized four such posters and handed over to the investigating wing. The veracity of their genuineness is being scrutinised," said Baripada Sadar sub-divisional police officer Avimanyu Nayak.

Villagers said they had seen a group of Hindi-speaking outsiders in their area. Their movements made people suspicious and led to panic. Jharpokharia and Garumahasani are close to Ghodabandha and Dumuria respectively in Jharkhand, both vulnerable to rebel activities.