More forces to be deployed in Malkangiri, Koraput

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government is moving ahead in deploying more security forces in the cutoff areas to tackle the Maoist violence.

While tangible progress has been made during these years to fight out the Left Wing Extremists (LWEs), looking at the activities of the Maoists in the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border zones, the State police are making efforts to augment capacity in these areas, said sources.

While Maoists are on the run and positive developments are recorded during last two years, there is a move by the Ultras to consolidate their position in Malkangiri and Koraput.

The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBZC) guerrillas are now active in both the districts and especially Malkangiri is receiving the brunt of the Maoist scourge.

DGP RP Sharma recently visited these areas and held talks with top cops engaged in anti-Maoist operations. The move has given boost to the security forces engaged in operations against the Ultras. Sources said the joint operations by the security forces of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will yield better results and this will reduce the space occupied by the Maoists in these areas.

As the Maoists are targeting the innocent people, dubbing them as ‘police informers’, steps are being taken to protect their life and properties, said sources.

Similarly, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being adhered seriously to ensure no loss of security forces. The border region will get more security cover after the Gurupriya bridge will be completed and suitable infrastructure for connectivity will be made available in these far flung zones, officials pointed out.

Similarly, on the border region of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, similar deployment of security forces is required as the Maoists are getting more space in these areas. Joint operations by Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand will force the Ultras to run away as they are trying to consolidate their position in the border zones.

Support of additional forces deployment by the Union Government will go a long way in helping out these three States, which are facing a tough time due to Maoist menace, pointed out an IPS officer engaged in anti-Maoist operations. Maoists are also active in Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh region and are trying to raise young brigade in these areas. However, the youth are showing little interest to join LWE groups, sources said. So cadres from Chhattisgarh are moving in these areas to open camps and create safer zones for the Ultras, sources said. In order to mobilize the peoples’ opinion in their favour, they are raising popular issues. But it look like that the people are not obliging them as they are aware about killing of innocent people by the Maoists.