VISAKHAPATNAM: Tension prevailed in disputed Kotia villages on the Andhra-Odisha border in Vizianagaram district as the Odisha government deployed security forces and stopped the Andhra Pradesh medical staff going to organize vaccination drives for pregnant women and children.
Medical staff going to Eguva Ganjaibhadra and Diguva Ganjaibhadra villages were stopped at Eguvasembi village by the Odisha officials and cops.
It is recalled that both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have been locking horns for around 21 villages of the Kotia area for the past 60 years. Now, both states are now trying to take up developmental activities which kindled fire between them.
According to sources, AP medical staff of Tonam PHC were going for the vaccination of TT, Rotavirus, Polio for the children and were obstructed by the Odisha police.
Odisha security forces stopped the AP officials even on Friday when they had gone to organize eye camps and also women meetings by Velugu officials.
Andhra Pradesh officials organized an Eye Camp in Ganjaibhadra and also women meeting by Veludu APD Y Satyam Naidu on Friday. After learning this, Koraput Tehsildar Ranjankumar Mannet, Pottangi block additional Tahesildar Mahadev Votra, Sunabeda DSP camped at Eguvasembi.
Nandapur Tahsildar Narasimha, Semiliguda additional Tahsildar Debabrata Karat, Pottangi police station in-charge Sambith Behara, and other police officials camped at Mudakaru village. But the AP medical staff of Tonam have already reached Kotia villages and conducted eye camp. They conducted camps at Dhulibhadra and Nerellavalasa.
