Maoism-hit states get tips on fighting menace from Odisha

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar,  Apr 8:

Top IPS officers of nine states affected by left-wing extremism (LWE), including Odisha, exchanged notes on intelligence sharing and other issues as part of the efforts to counter the menace more effectively at a national level at a workshop here today.

The workshop held at the headquarters of the Commissionerate police was organised by the Directorate of Intelligence of Odisha police.

The meeting was attended by Joint Secretary, LWE affairs Dilip Kumar, Security Advisor of MHA, Sanjay Aggarwal, Director LWEO, Anand Jain, Odisha DGP Sanjiv Marik, additional DGP AK Sarangi, Intelligence ADG Sunil Roy and other top IPS officials.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had directed the Naxal affected states to replicate the strategy used by the Odisha police to deal with the Red ultras, Marik told reporters after the meeting.

“The focus of the meeting was on Intelligence sharing among the Naxal affected states,” he said.

While praising the anti-Naxal module implemented by the Odisha police, the DGP said the strategies adopted by Odisha police to tackle Maoism was presented before its counterparts from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The DGP said Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states shared through video presentation their respective strategies, which have helped them combat Maoism successfully in their states.

Asked about reports published in the national media that the two SIMI members killed in Telangana lastweek were involved in a bank robbery  in Odisha, the DGP said the  report is being verified.

The DGP asserted that there was no presence of SIMI member in the state.