Jawan’s death won’t go in vain: DGP

RAYAGADA: Asserting that the sacrifice of martyr jawan Sanjay Majhi will not go in vain, Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma on Wednesday said the Maoists will be given a befitting reply for their cowardly attack.

Addressing mediapersons here, Sharma said the rebels will be dealt with an iron hand. Strategies and standard operation procedures (SOPs) of the security forces may be changed keeping in the view the current ground situation, he said.

The DGP also appealed to the Maoists to give up arms and join the mainstream instead of killing innocents.

A couple of incidents of Maoist terror in Rayagada in the recent past has put Odisha police on its toes and thereby, resulted in the DGP’s visit to the district. A few days back, a landmine was defused near Barijhola village, 3 km from Rayagada town. On Monday, 22-year-old Sanjay Majhi, a jawan of District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Ambodola village, was martyred in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists near Sakata village under Munikhol gram panchayat.

Later on the day, Sharma held an emergency meeting with security officials at the District Police Office here. The top cop also met the father of the martyr jawan. Among others, DIG S Shynee, Additional DG, Operations RP Koche, IG Intelligence RK Sharma, Special Intelligence Officer Ghanasyam Upadhaya and SPs of Koraput, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi districts were present. Sharma also met Rayagada Collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar on the day.