Tuesday, November 15 2005 10:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Naxal-affected areas of Maharashtra have been put on an alert following the attack by naxal cadre on a jail at Jehanabad district of Bihar on Sunday night (Nov 13, 2005), police said yesterday (Nov 14, 2005).

Security set up in naxal-affected Gadchiroli, Bhandara and Chandrapur districts of eastern Maharashtra has been beefed up and policemen in the vulnerable areas have been asked to be on guard, top state police officials told PTI here last night.

"We have taken necessary steps to ensure that we do not face the kind of problem that happened in Jehanabad," State Director General of Police, P S Pasricha told PTI, here.

State intelligence sources said that it was keeping a close watch on entry of strangers in these affected districts and set up at strategic police stations and outposts has been strengthened.

The naxalites, meanwhile, have given a 'Gadchiroli bandh' call today to protest the new surrender policy introduced by the Government for naxalites, that saw laying down of arms by nearly 50 naxal members in the recent few days, sources said.

Gadchiroli district superintendent, Shirish Jain told PTI from Gadchiroli that additional forces have been deployed at necessary places, while the force had launched a counter offensive to foil any naxalite sabotage bid.