The Union Government has appreciated the recent opening of the important Gurupriya Bridge that provided road communication to Maoists-infested cutoff areas in Malkangiri district and commended operational success of the Odisha police against the left-Wing Extremists (lWEs) during the first six months of 2018.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) showered praises during a half-yearly review meeting on anti-Maoist operations, according to reports.
In a letter to the State Government, MHA Secretary Rajiv Gauba mentioned that there has been a considerable reduction in causalities of security forces and civilians since January 2018.
He also mentioned that opening of Gurupriya Bridge has provided opportunity to State Administration to scale up developmental activities in the most backward and Maoist-hit areas. Gauba said that commendable operational success has to be maintained during next half of 2018. The bridge will cause of a radical shift in both security and development strategy in the area. On the
Chief Secretary AP Padhi has advised Home ACS Asit Triapthy and DGP RP Sharma to chalk out security strategy for the cutoff area to enhance cooperation and joint operations with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Governments, said sources.
In the meantime, Tripathy has urged the MHA to restore one CoBRA battalion for Cut Off Area, said official sources.
Now, Maoists are worried due to opening of the bridge over the Gurupriya river and even they have opposed the Government move by placing pamphlets at various places during the Martyrs’ Week.
Now, they are moving out to borders of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and joint operations by both neighboring States wold result in elimination of more lWEs, viewed a senior police officer.
Similarly, Maoists are trying to enlarge their geographical coverage in Angul and Boudh and for which the MHA has listed both the districts as Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Districts. So both these two districts would receive financial support from the MHA to handle the Maoist menace, said an official.