As the Maoists have started their preparations to celebrate their Martyrs’ Week beginning from July 28, the Odisha police and Central forces are on their toes to crack down various groups of Red rebels operating in different parts of the State.
The police have started their combing operations in the Maoist-affected areas under the South-Western, Southern and Western Ranges, keeping an eye on the movement of the ultras in the forests.
Though the security personnel remained alert and are collecting intelligence inputs about movements of the Maoists, incessant rains and overflowing rivers have hit anti-Maoist operations in Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts.
According to Inspector General of Police (South-Western Range), YK Jethwa, the anti-Maoist operations have been hit due to the unabated rains. “But our security forces are on high alert in view of the Martyrs’ Week,” he added.
Jethwa said there is extra vigil on border areas to prevent possible infiltrations of ultras coming from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to Odisha for observation of the week.
Following the arrest of top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, the security personnel have become more active in the Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam border areas to check the activities during the Martyrs’ Week. Southern Range DIG Amitabh Thakur said, “We are planning to intensify the search operations in two more areas keeping in view the Maoists’ observance of the Martyrs’ Week.” He added, “Though rain sometimes plays spoilsport during the operations, our security personnel continue to keep vigil on the movement of the ultras and collect intelligent inputs from locals.”
Thakur said the police are also investigating about a new leader, Shekhar, who had written a letter to the police following the arrest of Panda. “Panda’s Odisha Maobadi Party had no base in the State during his arrest. So, we are not worried about the impact of his impact,” he said.
In the Western range, the police have received intelligent inputs that several Maoists from Odisha and Jharkhand would meet in the Saranda jungle to observe the week.