With Maoists failing to lure tribal youths to turn as their cadre, a serious move is on to infiltrate Odisha with young cadres from Chhattisgarh.
Young cadres from Chhattisgarh are being infiltrated inside the State and they are trying to influence innocent people and whenever any opposition is surfacing, these civilians are killed dubbing them as “police informer,” admit officials.
Though the Left Wing Extremists (LWE)s are trying hard to enrol young boys and girls from tribal zone, they are not inclined to join cadre, thanks to extensive anti-Maoist operations and awareness on their nefarious activities, which is hitting the citizens.
As the Maoists are killing civilians, and the youths in villages are angry and reacting sharply against their merciless killing by the Chhattisgarh cadres, pointed out a senior officer engaged in anti-Maoist operations.
And with large numbers of cadres from Odisha surrendering to the State police, youths are not joining the ultras, said he.
So the LWE leadership is forced to induct young boys and girls from Chhattisgarh and infiltrating them to neighbouring States like Odisha and Jharkhand.
Under this backdrop, the Union Government has advised the State Government to take up joint operations against the Maoists.
While the joint operations by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh police yielded positive results, similar joint operations are expected by Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh security forces, an official said.
In fact, joint operations by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha police have demoralized the Maoists and now Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border has turned out to be a peaceful zone as ultras are not finding place to set up their feet in these areas. So Andhra-Odisha border zone of Maoists has weakened and there is much less movement in these areas by the ultras.
And with the Gurupriya bridge is open for public, it has enhanced the mobility in the area and the cut-off area is no more disconnected from main land, leading better connectivity.
Looking at the better connectivity, DGP RP Sharma has chalked out separate strategy for these areas and joint operations with Andhra Pradesh Police are being taken up.
Earlier, operations by Special Operation Groups (SOG)s of Odisha police and Grey Hounds of Andhra Pradesh police have paid better results and result was evident.
Similar joint operations are expected in borders of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, said a senior official.
While the State Government is improving its manpower and capabilities in SOG and District Voluntary Force (DVF), deployment of more Central Armed Security Forces is need of the hour, said the officer.
Recently, Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa has advised the State Government to seal the border zones adjacent to Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.