Bhubaneswar: To further intensify anti-Maoist operations in the State, the Police Department has decided to set up 11 new police camps in the left-wing extremists (LWEs) affected areas, Director General of Police Sunil Kumar Bansal said here today.
Shri Bansal said after chairing the Strategy Conference on Left Wing Extremism held here at Police Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.
Bansal said that the formation of the new camps would make the battle against the ultras more effective. The Police department is now focusing on dealing with the challenge from Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) and Nayanpuri divisions of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).
Noting that the elections are going to be held in 2024, the DGP said that the Maoist-affected districts will pose a major challenge to the police and appropriate steps would be taken to deal with the situation.
“We need to remain cautious during the election period and ensure that the polls are held without any incident. Despite the deployment of forces, the presence of the ultras in some pockets is also being felt and putting up posters,” said the DGP.
He further informed that Odisha shares its border with Chhattisgarh and some rebels from either side cross over.
It was decided at the meeting to deploy high-tech drones in the anti-Naxal operations.
In his inaugural address, DGP appreciated the efforts by District Police, SIW, SOG and Central Armed Police Forces for their combined efforts in bringing about remarkable improvement in LWE situation in the State.
He thanked various Departments of the Government for extending unflinching support in the fight against the Maoist menace. The DGP stated that the major focus is now on Kandhamal– Kalahandi and Boudh axis, which has emerged as the new flash point of Maoist activities.
He hoped that combined efforts by all the stakeholders will have a decisive advantage in the fight against the Maoists.
Director, Intelligence, Sanjeeb Panda said that the aim of this Conference was to re-visit the strategy and response to combat the problem in a more effective manner.
Shri Panda also emphasised that Security Forces must have proactive approach against the Maoists in South-Central Odisha i.e. Kandhamal – Boudh. He appreciated SPs of Koraput and Malkangiri for showing great leadership in bringing down naxal incidents to nil in the last one and half year.
The Director Intelligence stated that Maoists may try to carry out demonstrative acts of violence in the run up to the General Elections – 2024 to make their presence felt and boost the morale of the rank and file and hence, Security Forces must be watchful to this.
A wide range of issues relating to the LWE problem in the State and way forward to combat the menace were discussed in this Conference. The participants gave their thoughts and suggestions in this regard.
It was emphasized in the Conference that the intelligence gathering mechanism would be further strengthened and anti- – LWE operations would be further intensified in the affected areas with special focus on Boudh.
Among others, ADG (Operations) S Devdatta Singh, Intelligence DIG Anup Kumar Sahoo, Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) DIG Umashankar Dash and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of 10 Maoists-affected districts attended the meeting.