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Maximum alert in MP following murder

The police has been placed on maximum alert in Madhya Pradesh following the murder of the state's transport minister Lakhiram Kavre by Naxalites in Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh late on Wednesday night.

Official sources said in Bhopal that security arrangements have been beefed up, particularly in Balaghat, Mandla, Rajanadgaon, Kawardha, Bastar, Dantewara, Kanker, Dindori and Sarguja districts where several Naxalite outfits were active.

Stating that a massive manhunt has been launched to track down the assailants of the minister, they said combing operations were on in the forests of Balaghat and nearby districts. Besides, a close vigil was being maintained on inter-state borders with neighbouring Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Precautions were being taken to prevent further Naxalite attacks, including landmine blasts, targeting the police parties during the search and combing operations.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who has left for Balaghat to pay homage to the slain minister, and several leaders of different parties have expressed shock over what they called a cowardly act and said Kavre's contribution towards the development of the region would always be remembered.

The state government declared a holiday for its offices as a mark of respect to Kavre. A three-day mourning would be observed in the state, the sources added.

UNI

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