In a bid to check inter-State movement of rebels during anti-Naxal operations in the bordering areas of Jharkhand and Odisha, a co-ordination meeting among the heads of the two State police forces was held in Ranchi on Thursday where a decision was taken to address the problem jointly.
The meeting was attended by several other top police officials of the state police as well as the SPs of the bordering districts of both the states.
“Since, Odisha and Jharkhand are neighbours, having a long stretch of inter-state borders, there are so many by-junctions on which we can both work together,” said DGP DK Pandey. Calling the meeting as a great success, the DGP also added that it was a good initiative out of which both the states will get benefitted.
According to Pandey, it was difficult to keep a tab on every inch of the border but the field officers on both sides will address the problem jointly. “Security forces on both sides of the borders of Odisha and Jharkhand will together take action against the Maoists, so that peace could be restored leading to the development of such areas,” the DGP added.
Panchayat Elections, according to the DGP, was a challenge where they will also be getting support from Odisha along the bordering areas creating a better atmosphere for the future.
During the meeting, it was also decided to conduct joint operations to check the menace of naxalism, illegal mining and other criminal activities alongside the bordering areas of the two states. Strategies were also chalked out by the two states to deal with the situation.
DGP of Odisha Sanjeev Marik on the other hand, ensured that no criminal or naxal activity will be allowed alongside the borders of Odisha. “Adequate police deployment on the police pickets as well as police stations will be made, not allowing any criminal activities alongside the bordering areas,” said Marik.
A presentation was also shown during the meeting on the measures taken to check the increasing criminal incidents of naxalism, loot, and property based crime, illegal mining and other criminal activities alongside the borders of Jharkhand and Odisha.
The presentation was prepared by ADG (Operations), Jharkhand SN Pradhan and IG (Operations), Odisha S Priyadarshi.