Bhubaneswar, Odisha Police are preparing to launch a major anti-Maoist operation in the Gandhamardhan hills, a top official said.
Odisha Police is preparing for a major offensive against Maoist operations in Gandhamardan HillsADG Sanjeev Panda said a blueprint has been drawn up to arrest or neutralize some of the Red rebels sheltering in the Gandhamardhan hills spread across Bolangir and Bargarh districts.
Additional jawans of the CRPF and state police’s elite special operations group will be deployed for the operation.
Panda said the Odisha Police was hopeful of meeting the March 31 deadline to declare the state ‘Naxal-free’.
He said at least five districts Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput and Boudh have been declared ‘Naxal free’ after the surrender of Maoist cadres.
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The ADG said the police have already intensified intelligence gathering from both the districts.
He held a meeting with the stakeholders and SPs of both the districts. Maoist activity has been reported in the hilly areas since 2008 and there have been several gun battles in the area, police said.
The recent decision, police said, was based on intelligence reports about the resurgence of Maoist activities in Gandhamardan after a lull.
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Apart from Gandhamardan, some Maoists are also sheltering in the tri-junction of Kandhmal, Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, said another senior officer associated with the anti-Naxal operation.
“All efforts are being made to ensure the elimination of Naxalites before March 31,” he said.
Panda reiterated the state government’s plea for red rebels to come forward and join the mainstream by taking benefits of the revised surrender and rehabilitation policy.
The ADG said some Maoists are hiding in Kandhamal district and efforts are being made to ensure their surrender before March 31.
As many as 45 Maoists have surrendered to the Odisha Police in a span of about 70 days since a notification of the Revised Surrender and Rehabilitation Scheme was issued on November 27 last year.
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