Raipur: Security was stepped up in the forests of Chhattisgarh's restive Dantewada district Wednesday, a day after Maoist guerillas set fire to 39 deserted huts belonging to members of an anti-Maoist civil militia movement.

"Extra policemen have been deployed in hamlets inside the forests after insurgents set on fire 39 deserted huts at the remote Tetrai village early Tuesday," Rahul Sharma, superintendent of police (Dantewada), told reporters.

The village is located some 500 km from state capital Raipur.

"The arson by armed guerrillas has created panic in the villages close to Andhra Pradesh and police presence has been boosted as a precautionary measure," the officer said.

The tribals of Tetrai village are members of the government-backed Salwa Judum movement, launched in June 2005 to counter the guerrillas, and have settled in a nearby relief camp in Dornapal for the last two years.

The government has set up 23 make-shift relief camps in Bijapur and Dantewada districts where about 50,000 people, mostly tribals, are living following threats from the Maoists.

 

Source : IANS