For building a friendly bond between law enforcing agencies and people in Maoist-hit areas, a mega community policing programme was organised in Rayagada district.
Entitled 'Maitri', the programme was organised by the police in collaboration with district administration at Maoist-hit Jagdalpur village on Saturday with an aim to create a friendly environment between the law-enforcing agency and people, a senior police official said.
The programme comprised rural sports and games, entertainment, folk dance, awareness drives, medical camps.
"The idea was to build the trust of people in police and bring the misguided tribal youths to the mainstream. The villagers were made aware of the anti-tribal and anti-development attitude of the ultras and urged to join hands with administration for all-round development," DIG (South-West range) S Shyni said.
The villagers were made to realise that the ultras were the main cause of lack of development and their misery.
While the administration is committed to end the Maoist menace the locals also have to cooperate for the development of the region, Rayagada SP K Siva Subramani said.
