Odisha cops to intensify anti-Maoist drive in southern districts

Koraput, Odisha: Encouraged by success achieved by security personnel in recent months, Odisha Director General of Police Prakash Mishra today said anti-Maoist operations would be intensified in southern districts comprising Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. Mishra said this after reviewing the law and order situation with top CRPF, BSF and Odisha police officials in Koraput.[caption id=“attachment_1041089” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Maoists menace. AFP[/caption] “Though we have achieved much success in our anti-Maoist operations in recent times but it will be more intensified in coming days,” Mishra told mediapersons after the meeting. Though no additional forces are required for intensifying anti-Naxalite operations in Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts, certain changes will be made to make the operations more effective, Mishra said. Focusing on Narayanpatna in Koraput district, he said, “Situation in Narayanpatna has improved a lot in the past few months. With our community policing programme we are able to strike a chord with the tribals in Narayanpatna. More and more tribals are deserting the Maoist backed Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh and cooperating with the administration.” “Out of frustration, the Maoists are executing stray violences,” he added. The DGP dismissed the alleged spat between the BSF and Odisha police in conducting anti-Naxalite operations as baseless. “There is good coordination between the BSF and the Odisha police while conducting operations. There are no differences between the two forces,” he said. PTI