With Maoists on active mode, the State police administration is contemplating to redeploy forces in certain areas of western and northern regions from where jawans had been withdrawn in the past. “We will redeploy forces at those places from where they were withdrawn months back. As the situation has changed, we have decided to take proactive measures,” Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik told mediaperons on Saturday. Marik claimed that strength of the State police has increased manifold, and State forces’ dependence on Central forces to tackle Maoist menace has declined. “State forces like District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) are fighting against Maoists along with Central forces. The strength of SOG has now increased to 3,000 from 1,500,” DGP said.
He, however, said that Maoists activities have declined in K Balang, Koira, Bonai and lathikata areas which were earlier considered their stranglehold. Replying a question on the formation of Rourkela Commissionerate of Police, the DGP said a commissionerate system works in a municipal corporation area only and he would not comment further on it as the corporation issue is sub-judice here. Marik said the sole purpose of his visit was to review the anti-Maoist operation and also the red flag cases (crimes against women). He informed that there are 10 red flag cases in Sundergarh, one in Rourkela and 12 in Keonjhar district.