Intelligence has tipped off the police about a reported plan by Naxals to siege Raipur, sources disclosed here on Sunday.
“The Maoists are going ahead with their plan of cordoning off Raipur by gradually strengthening their base around the state capital. The militants have of late started reviving their urban network in Raipur by activating their sleeper cells,” a senior police officer here told this newspaper quoting the intelligence reports.
Sources said the habitations in the outer areas of Raipur, close to Jagdalpur and Rajnandgaon highways, have been identified as new bases being created by the Naxals to give shape to their proposed audacious plan. The localities have of late been used by the Naxals as their safe havens. The areas included Sunder Nagar, Dongaria, Kota, Raipur, Mowa, Santoshi Nagar, Mahadev Ghat, Tikarapara, Bhanpuri and Birgaon.
These localities have already been under the intelligence radar ever since several Naxals, including Narayan Sanyal, were arrested in Sunder Nagar a few years back. The police has busted the urban network of the militants in Raipur by arresting several senior Naxals leaders.
Intelligence sources, however, said of late the Naxals have started reviving their urban network in the state capital by activating their sleeper cells as part of their strategy to siege Raipur.
“We have already launched intense search operations in vulnerable areas in and around Raipur city. We have information that several militants are camping in the outer areas in rented houses. Hence, we have issued a notice to the public asking them to report to their nearest police stations about their tenants,” a senior police officer posted in Raipur said.