The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) of the state Thursday took control of the Police Parade Ground in the state capital where the main Independence Day function is scheduled Saturday.

Chhattisgarh has been witnessing a string of attacks on police and civilians since June 2005 when a government backed civil militia movement, Salwa Judum, was launched in Bastar to flush out the rebels.

Over 1,500 people have been killed in Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh since November 2000, when the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh.

Last month, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was killed along with 28 security personnel in coordinated attacks by the Leftist rebels.