Odisha Police & CRPF to launch anti-Maoist operation soon

Odisha Police and CRPF would soon launch joint anti-Maoist operation in the state, a senior police officer said Thursday.

The security agencies dealing with Left Wing Extremism feel that this is the right time to further intensify the anti-Maoist operation as the red rebels remain disturbed during the rainy season, the officer said.

The decision to launch the joint operation was taken at a meeting between Odisha DGP R P Sharma and CRPF DG Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar.

"We should stress on the joint operation as well as proper co-ordination among the LWE hit states," Sharma said after the meeting.

He said though 15 of the state's 30 districts, are identified as LWE hit, Maoists incidents are mostly confined within five districts - Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Kandhamal.

As Maoist activities have drastically come down in different states, this is the right time to further intensify anti-Maoist operation, Bhatnagar said.