Now, Unified Command to be set up at dist level

The Union Government has made a pitch for setting up a district-level Unified Command in each Maoist-hit district in Odisha to sharpen the edge of anti-Maoist operations.

While the State Government is having State Level Unified Command, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stressed on the need to constitute District Level Unified Operational Command in Left Wing Extremist (LWE)-affected districts in the State to eliminate the menace.

To achieve success in the counter-insurgency operations at the ground level, it is necessary to set up the District Unified Commands and convene its meetings on regular basis, pointed out the MHA, said sources.

The Government of Chhattisgarh has already constituted District Level Unified Command headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) and it has shown better results in anti-Naxal operations.

Now in Odisha and other States, there is State Level Unified Command headed by Chief Secretary, where members are from different State and Central forces as well as Secretaries of various departments, both from regulatory and development sector.

Performance wise, Odisha tops the list of the LWE hit States, where Unified Command meet is held regularly. Union Secretary Home Affairs Rajiv Gauba has recently reviewed the performance of the States, which are affected by Naxals, said sources.

It came to notice that while Odisha holds Unified Command Meet three to four times in a year, whereas some other States have held once in entire year, sources said.

Official sources said that though West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and other States have formed Unified Command, meetings are not convened at regular intervals.

Sources in Department of Home said that Home Secretary Asit Tripathy coordinated three meetings, which were held in 2017 and recently another meeting of Unified Command was held on June 4 to review the anti-Maoist operations and developmental works being taken up in the Red corridors.

During the last Unified Command meeting held in June, it came to light that there is significant improvement in LWE scenario in the State.

One issue cropped up during discussion in Unified Command meeting about the collection of funds by the ultras and the State police headed by DGP Rajendra Prasad Sharma have chalked out an action plan to stop such activities so that resource generation by the Maoist will hit hurdles.

Similarly, the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat has revealed that huge money has been recovered from the Maoists, confirming ransom collection. Justice Pasayat told that illegal properties purchased with black money by the Maoists have been seized from the ultras by various investigating agencies. The Unified Command meet also reviews State’s development schemes like livelihood care, skill development and electrification implemented in the LWE-hit zones.