Maoists of Niyamgiri-Kashipur division have started strengthening their base by recruiting local youths of Kalyansinghpur, Kashipur and Niyamgiri area in Rayagada district, said southern range DIG S Debadatta Singh in a Press note issuedon Thursday.
Police sources said that they have been tracking the movements of the Maoists and would intensify the combing operation in full strength to control the Maoist activities in the area. “If we fail to check their power at an early stage, we will find it tougher later,” said a top cop.
Sources said the Maoists want to rebuild the Niyamgiri-Kashipur division amid the differences between Maoist leaders Nikhil and Bunty. As the cadres have suffered heavy casualties by confronting the cops earlier, they no longer want to indulge in bloody fight against the cops now and are in need of time to rebuild their strength.
On Wednesday, a woman Maoist was killed in police encounter and a huge cache of arms, ammunitions and other articles were seized from the Niyamgiri area after an encounter in the forests near Kadraka village under Kalyan Singhpur police station limits.
The arms and ammunitions seized include three 303 rifles, three 303 magazines, 53 rounds of 303 ball ammunition, an Insas magazine and 17 rounds of Insas ammunitions, said the police.