CRPF DG reviews anti-Maoist operations in south Odisha

Reported by Ranjan Rath
Rayagada, Jan 12:

Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Prakash Mishra today reviewed anti Maoist operation in the southern districts of Odisha.

Mishra, on his first visit to the state after taking over as DG, CRPF, reached Gajalbadi in Ganjam district this morning and visited the base camp of the 127 battalion of the central paramilitary force.

From Gajalbadi, the CRPF chief went to Chandrapur in Rayagada district where he reviewed the anti Maoist operations with top CRPF and Odisha police officials at the premises of the CRPF 8th battalion.

Among those present at the review meeting were CRPF IG (Operation) Pankaj Kumar, CRPF IG Zakir Hussain, Director of Intelligence Odisha police SK Ray, IG (Intelligence) Soumedra Priyadarshi and Rayagada SP Shiv Subramani, sources said.

Talking to media persons after the two-hour long review meeting,  Mishra said the meeting took stock of the situation in the backdrop of intelligence inputs about ongoing Maoist camps on the Odisha Chhattisgarh border, besides the need to ensure ‘zero casualty’ on the CRPF side during anti Maoist operations.

“We have received definite intelligence inputs about Maoists training camps where cadres are being trained on how to down helicopters on reconnaisance and rescue operations and are taking steps to foil their designs and ensure ‘zero casualty’ on our side. Pilots have been asked to take adequate precautions while on such missions,” the CRPF DG said.

“We have decided to shift CRPF base camps from areas where Maoist activities have waned and shift them to places where the red rebels are more active,” Mishra said.

Maoist activities had come down significantly in south Odisha, except for Koraput and Malkangiri districts, he added.