Odisha mulling deployment of forces in western range areas

Odisha Police today said it was contemplating to redeploy forces in certain areas within western range from where jawans were withdrawn due to security reasons in the past.
"We will redeploy forces from where they were earlier withdrawn. As the situation has changed, we will go for proactive measures," Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjiv Marik told reporters here.
Marik also claimed that Odisha Police's strength has increased manifold and the state force was not fully dependent on the central force to tackle the Maoist menace in the state.
"We have more state forces like the DVF (district voluntary force), SOG (special operation force) and others who are fighting against Maoists along with the central forces. The strength of SOG has increased to 3,000 from 1,500," Marik said.

On the coordination between the Odisha and Jharkhand, the DGP said the SPs of neighbouring districts will hold a meeting to sort out problems, if any.
Expressing satisfaction over anti-Maoist operations, Marik said, "There have been fall in Maoists activities in K Balang, Koira, Bonai and Lathikata areas which were earlier considered under their stranglehold."

Replying a question on the formation of the Rourkela Commissionerate of Police, the DGP said, "We are ready to implement it at anytime. But, for the commissionerate to come up you need the corporation. And as the whole thing is sub-judice, I cannot comment further on it."

Marik said the sole purpose of his visit was to review the anti-naxal operation and also the red flag cases.
Explaining the red flag cases, he said, "Those cases which have been committed against the women, like rape, and take stock of the situation of the investigation and trial in these cases."
"There have been 10 (red flag cases) in Sundergarh, 1 in Rourkela and 12 in Keonjhar. And there have been six convictions and two acquittals as the complainants turned hostile," he said.
Marik also informed that he took stock of the law and order situation under these three police districts of Rourkela, Sundergarh and Keonjhar.