Ahead of the nationwide bandh call given by the banned CPI (Maoist) on January 31, fresh posters denouncing it were released in the name of “Adivasi Vidhyardhi Sangham” and other tribal associations, in the Pedabayalu area in Visakhapatnam district. The posters were seen at a weekly shandy in Pedabayalu.

The associations questioned the need for bandh. They alleged that Maoists had been forcibly collecting rice and other essential commodities for organising meetings for the last one week.

Also, tribal people were being compelled to attend their meetings

The ‘vidhyardhi sangham’ also urged the Maoists not to disturb their daily routine in the name of one-day bandh or week-long protests.

High alert

The incident of Maoists torching a private bus in the Malkangiri area of Odisha, in the wee hours of Tuesday, led the police to sound a high alert in the AOB areas of Visakhapatnam district.

Vehicle checks were being conducted in the border areas of Pedabayulu, Sileru, Munchingput, and Paderu. Huge police force had been deployed in all the affected mandals.

Combing intensified

Combing operations had been intensified to prevent any untoward incident.