File picture of police officers patrolling at a Maoist stronghold

Bhubanesawar, June 11: Maoists are making forays into newer areas, their latest target being the tribal-dominated Khaprakhol block in Balangir district.

The area adjoins the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary which has turned into a hotbed of Maoist activities over the last one year. Even the Maoists from Chhattisgarh have been using the sanctuary as a hideout.

Sources said that Khaprakhol, with its sizeable tribal population and acute poverty, ideally suits the gameplan of the rebels who are keen to extend their activities to newer areas. Their activities have also been noticed in Paikmal area of the adjoining Bargarh.

On Saturday, the Maoists torched nearly a dozen of kendu leaf godowns in different villages of Khaprakhol block. The villages, where the rebels struck, included Khuripani, Rengali, Chaulbanji, and Jamunabadi.

Before that, they had set fire on kendu leaf godowns, locally known as fadi, in Sanabanki and Badabanki villages under Tureikela block of Balangir district where security has been beefed up in the wake of these incidents.

Sources said that the Maoists were trying to cash in on the resentment brewing among the tribal kendu leaves pluckers who were demanding higher wages. The pluckers, who get 2 paise per leaf at present, are asking for the rate to be hiked to 3 paise per leaf.

There is a growing anxiety among the local police officers following reports that rebels operating in Balangir and Nuapada have been trying to create a corridor joining Chhattisgarh. They have also been targeting panchayati raj representatives in these areas to consolidate their base.

Sources said the larger gameplan of the Maoists appeared to be pushing further in Kalahandi district after taking control of Balangir. “If they succeed in doing this, they will hold control of a contiguous geographical area extending from the tip of Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary touching Chhattisgarh border to the Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi. This can be dangerous because there is a big alumina refinery situated at the foothills of Niyamgiri at Lanjigarh,” said a police officer.

Maoist literature, posters and flags have also been found at Cherngajhanji village within the limits of Paikmal police station of Bargarh. Maoist cadres have also been seen moving around in the villages in the vicinity of Gandhamardhan hills, a rich source of bauxite reportedly being eyed by a number of industrial houses.