Nuapada: Odisha Police is keeping a close watch on the activities of Maoists in areas of Nuapada and Kalahandi bordering Chhattisgarh, informed DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi.
“These two districts-Nuapada and Kalahandi are Maoist-infested districts. In Kalahandi and Nuapada Maoists have their presence. Maoist activities have been observed in Nuapada and Kalahandi, especially in areas bordering Chhattisgarh. We are keeping a close watch on the activities of various Maoist groups. Anti-Naxal operations are underway. We have further increased our intelligence gathering operations to ensure that Maoists do not disrupt the election process in the coming days,” said Sarangi briefing reporters on Monday at Nuapada after reviewing the law & order situation for the conduct of free and fair elections.
Sarangi said that currently 10 companies of Central paramilitary forces have been deployed and more forces will join in the coming days.
“A peaceful free and fair election will be our aim. We are hopeful people will cooperate with us in this endeavour of ours,” the DGP said.
He further informed that provisions have been made for airlifting of polling personnel in inaccessible areas like Sunabeda, etc.
“Following the encounter in Chhattisgarh, we have put all bordering areas on high alert. One important thing is earlier since 2000 elections have been simultaneously held in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. For the first time, their election has been held first and the election in Odisha is being held after 21 days. So there is apprehension of Maoists entering Odisha from Chhattisgarh. Therefore operations are being held on both sides,” said Sarangi.
The DGP said that the situation in Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts of the South-Western Range was reviewed earlier and two remaining districts of Nuapada and Kalahandi were reviewed today.
The review meeting was attended by ADG Sanjay Kumar, DIG (South-Western) Karan Singh Meena, and the SPs of Nuapada and Kalahandi.
