Pottangi: The Koraput district administration has stepped up vigilance in Kotia panchayat under Pottangi block by establishing police check posts at three locations along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border amid growing concerns over the approaching mandal and zilla parishad elections in the neighbouring state.
Koraput Additional District Magistrate Naresh Chandra Sabar visited Kotia Sunday and reviewed the situation in the border villages.
Subsequently, check posts were established at Neridibalsa, Talasambi and Haramandingi Chhak under the leadership of Koraput SD PO Sanjay Mandal, who is also in charge of Sunabeda SDPO.
The posts will function under the supervision of Kotia police station IIC Madhusudan Bhoi.
The check posts are intended to maintain round-the-clock surveillance, monitor movement across the border and prevent unauthorised entry into the border villages.
Talasambi is a key route to Tonam panchayat in Andhra Pradesh and is frequently used by residents of Dulgapadar, Uparasembi and other nearby villages.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh police personnel are reportedly performing duty in plain clothes at a church in Uparasembi.
Local agents allegedly working for Andhra Pradesh are also said to have begun making arrangements to facilitate voters’ access to polling stations during the elections.
Officials present during the identification of sites for the check posts included Tehsildar Devendra Bahadur Singh Dharua, Kotia Officer on Special Duty Saurabh Kanta Das, Engineer Prasanna Kumar Gara da and PEO Balabhadra Padhi.
The establishment of the check posts has, however, triggered concerns among residents of the border villages, who fear that the police arrangements could restrict their movement and electoral participation.
Some villagers have reportedly warned that they may boycott Odisha’s forthcoming panchayat elections and withdraw cooperation with the state administration if they are prevented from voting.
Residents argue that as beneficiaries of government assistance from both states, they should be allowed to participate in elections in accordance with applicable rules.
They have also questioned whether the deployment of police at the check posts could unnecessarily restrict their freedom of movement.
The administration now faces the challenge of maintaining border security and monitoring election-related activities while ensuring that residents’ lawful movement and voting rights are not adversely affected.
