The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is chalking out a strong strategy to deal with the Maoist menace, and the State Governments will be roped in to formulate a move on multipronged anti-Maoist efforts.
According to MHA sources, there are 35 districts in the country which are “Most affected by Maoist menace”. There are two such districts in Odisha, Malkangiri and Koraput.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has convened the meeting of the Chief Ministers of the seven Maoist-affected States, including Odisha on November 3 at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Home Ministers, Chief Secretaries and DGPs of the States will also attend the meeting.
Besides, this time, District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of the 35 districts will also attend the meeting.
The MHA has received inputs from various States that leftwing Extremist (lWE) incidents and resultant deaths in the country has gone down during 2015 compared to the corresponding period of last year.
However, the situation in the 35 “Most-affected” districts needs careful handling and close monitoring in togetherness between the Union Government and the State Governments, feels Singh.
The situation needs a “Multipronged strategy” covering security-related interventions, development initiatives, ensuring rights and entitlements of the forest dwellers and management of public perception, said a senior official.
The Maoist menace in Odisha is on the wane; however, the ultras are targeting civilians, By September 14, as many as 14 civilians have been killed in 48 violent incidents. Koraput and Malkangiri districts are facing the menace in a big way. The Malkangiri police were able to arrest at least 29 Maoist cadres. large numbers of Maoist sympathisers are surrendering to the Malkangiri police.
Maoists are trying hard to have their presence in Narayanpatna of Koraput district, but active district police forces and a large presence of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are halting their move, said sources.c