Stepping up pressure after releasing Collector R Vineel Krishna last month,the Maoists have now warned district authorities against carrying out any road construction activities and prohibited entry of government staff into the cut off area of six panchayats and a number of tribal hamlets on the Orissa-Andhra border,thus bringing all development activities to a grinding halt. Three days ago,the Naxalites communicated to staff posted in the mainland that they would not allow any construction activity,including building of roads,in the area and also warned against government officials visiting the cut off area, official sources told The Indian Express over phone from Kudummulgumma. Krishna was abducted on February 16 from Jantapai tribal hamlet,which is located in the area that remains cut off from the mainland because of the Balimela reservoir. Locals have to cross the reservoir and travel 17 km to Chitrakonta to buy essential commodities. We have come to know that the rebels have issued a warning against carrying out construction. As of now,only public distribution system and vaccination programmes are being carried out in the cut off area, the sources added.
