Pamphlets asking locals to boycott Republic Day celebration in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district were recovered with police sounding high alert in the naxal-hit district, bordering Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Police said the pamphlets were allegedly circulated by rebels under the name of 'Tada Dalam' and pasted on walls in rural areas of Devarbeli, Songudda and Machhurda, under Roopjhar police station limits of the district.
"The pamphlets urged people to shun Republic Day celebrations and criticised the government, stating it was exploiting tribals and encouraging illegal mining and crone capitalism," Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Tiwari, told PTI today.
The SP said the handbills were recovered yesterday, following which police has sounded red alert last night.
Tiwari said they were investigating whether the pamphlets were pasted by naxals or some other persons to create panic.
He said that security has been stepped up in naxal- affected areas in the district and joint search operation of MP police with Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra counterparts has been launched.
CRPF personnel too have increased their vigil, he added.
In the first phase of panchayat polls, held recently, naxals had given a call to villagers to represent a common candidate to win the elections unopposed, but, locals did not accept it.
