Security has been beefed up across the Visakhapatnam agency and along the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) in light of the Maoist Martyrs' Week being observed by the banned CPI (Maoist) from July 28 to August 3, police said here today.
Superintendent of Police (Visakha Rural) Koya Praveen and ASP (Operations) Vishal Gunni said that vigil has been stepped up and combing operations in sensitive areas in G K Veedhi, Chintapalle, G Madugula, Munchangiput, Pedabayalu, Koyyuru, Paderu and few other hot beds of the Maoists in the agency.
The development comes in the wake of a recent exchange of fire as well as an encounter, in which a Maoist called Suryam from the Prakasam area was gunned down in the Gobrapada area under Munchangiput area in the district on June 20, the police officials said.
The Maoist also killed one P Ramana of Gobrapada area after branding him a police informer, the police officials said.
Observation of Martyrs' Week is often fraught with violence since the rebels have attacked the police in the past due to which security has been beefed up in the Vizag agency area, the police officials said.
Meanwhile, the Maoists have put up banners and posters at several areas asking young people to celebrate Martyrs' Week, which will begin on Tuesday morning, the police officials said.
Maoists observe the event annually to remember their comrades who have fallen on police bullets calling them "martyrs", the police officials said.
