Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik on Thursday claimed that the Maoist influence in south Odisha would substantially decline with the arrest of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.
Holding a Press conference at the DIG office, Koraput, the DGP appealed to the Maoists to return to the mainstream by giving up arms.
Keeping his views on present Maoist situation in the State, Marik pointed out that Maoist-related disturbances or violence are under control now. A lot of Maoist issues would be resolved as Sabyasachi Panda has now been arrested, he said.
The DGP said the security forces would provide adequate security for execution of the Gurupriya Bridge project in Malkangiri district. He also said that more BSF camps would be opened and more police stations would be modernised with latest technology in Koraput and Malkangiri districts. The combing operations in these two districts would also be intensified further to curb the Maoist menace, he added.
The DGP inaugurated a website of the Rayagada police. Among others, South Western Range IG YK Jethwa, the BSF DIG, Koraput SP Dr Abinash Kumar, Malkangiri SP Akhileswar Singh and Rayagada SP Rajesh Pandit were present.