During his visit to the Maoist-hit Koraput and Malkangiri, Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik on Friday sought two more battalions of BSF jawans to intensify the anti-Maoist operations in these districts. Marik said the Maoist activities in the two districts have been remarkably decreased. “But we should not be complacent. We will intensify the anti-Maoist operations in these areas,” he added.
The DGP said the additional forces would fill the prevailing gap in the counter insurgency operations as they have no permanent camps in several places in Koraput district. Prior to reaching Koraput, the DGP had reviewed the Maoist situation in Malkangiri district and had held discussion with top officials as how to speed up development activities in the district with better coordination with the police and civil administration.
Department of Works Secretary Nalini Kanta Pradhan, IG (operations) Soumendra Priyadarshi and other top officials had reviewed the developmental works including the Gurupriya Bridge in Malkangiri district. Notably, the State Government had started construction of the bridge since September 2014. The work could not be taken up due to Maoist menace earlier.
The bridge would connect at least 151 villages situated across the Balimela reservoir with the outer world as a result of which development activities would penetrate in those areas, Marik said. According to the DGP, construction for a SOG training centre is on in Koraput and once it is completed strength of SOG personnel in the State would be increased.