DGP Abhay said the State Police was determined to completely eliminate the Maoists from “Swabhiman Anchal” in Malkangiri district.
Mr.Abhay after making a visit to Gurasetu BSF’s Company Operating Base (COB), recently set up in the Maoist hotbed of Malkangiri district said this.
The security personnel have set up at least seven COBs in the Swabiman Anchal, considered as the Hot Spot mostly operating in the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Border “We are determined to finish the Maoist influence in Swabhiman Anchal. Therefore, the presence of security personnel is required to boost the confidence of the local residents. We have set up COBs in different places,” Mr.Abhay told Media here after a review of Maoist activities. Meeting was attended by senior officers of State Police and BSF organized to chalk out a strategy for complete elimination of Maoists from Malkangiri.
The DGP said roads, telecommunication towers, schools, health centres and anganwadi centres are being developed in Swabiman Anchal.
“We will ensure that the development in real sense reach the people of Cut-off area,” Mr.Abhay said. DGP also reiterated his appeal to the Maoists to come forward and surrender before the police as the government is determined to develop the area.
“We have an attractive surrender and rehabilitation policy for the surrendered Maoists. They get cash for doing business, training to start their own units and other facilities. They should take the benefit from the state government’s good gesture for them,” DGP said. Admitting that the Maoists are the major hurdles before development in the cut-off area, the DGP said efforts are on to ensure that the local residents get all sorts of facilities like health, education and livelihood. DGP also met the local tribals during his visit to the Gurasetu COB and distributed blankets, school uniforms, bags and other essentials to the villagers. “The people want development and they have sought schools, hospitals and anganwadi centres in their locality,” he said. Asked about the people living under constant threat of attack from the rebels, Mr.Abhay said: “We have a huge presence of security personnel across the Swabhiman Anchal.” Senior officials including the Director, Intelligence RK Sharma, IG, Operation Amitabh Thakur, BSF IG MS Sharma and DIG, South-Western Range Shafeen Ahmed K accompanied the DGP.