No celebration for cops

BHUBANESWAR: For the cops, Saturday will be sans vibrant colours of Holi. The Nayagarh Naxal mayhem still fresh in their memories, a big chunk of Orissa’s police force has resolved not to celebrate Holi this year.

Though the men in khaki cannot participate in the celebration, they have decided to shun whatever ritualistic manner in which they used to do it in the past.

Police force of Nayagarh, Khurda and adjoining districts particularly has taken the resolve as a mark of respect for those who fought against the Naxalites and laid down their lives and as a support for their family members, a senior official said.

As many as 13 policemen were killed by the Maoists in the February 15 attack, while the subsequent flush out operation claimed three more lives. One injured policeman had succumbed in the hospital.