Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Prakash Mishra on Tuesday said that the CRPF camps would be withdrawn from Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Ganjam districts where the Maoist activities have come down drastically and there would be a change of strategies to counter the Maoist threat in Odisha.Addressing a Press conference, Mishra said that during his tour for review of the Maoist situation of Ganjam and Rayagada districts, he observed that Maoist activities have declined there.
As the Red rebels are changing their activities, he has planned new strategies with senior CRPF officers and State police officials to curb Maoist violence further, Mishra said. For this, pro-people action programmes and civic activities have to be accelerated, he said. “As the Maoists are changing their strategies, we are also changing our approach accordingly, he said.
The CRPF camps would be withdrawn from Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts and their personnel would be redeployed in Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts, where the ultras are more active. Maoist activities in the State are now negligible, Mishra said. “The CRPF would take up special measures in the Maoist-prone areas in the State with special focus on Nuapada district and Sunabeda in Koraput district,” he said.
Replying to a question, Mishra said he is satisfied over the State Government’s cooperation with the CRPF in curbing the Maoist menace. If the State Government moves the Union Home ministry for deployment of more CRPF personnel, the Centre can meet the requirement, he said. The pilots of the helicopters flying in the Maoist area would be specially trained to meet the threats of the Red rebels, Mishra said.