Performance of the police personnel comes in for praise
The State police, with the deployment of Central paramilitary forces in the Maoist violence-hit regions, are now trying their best to tackle the menace of Left wing extremism in an effective manner.

While in many regions the police have succeeded in counterchecking the Maoist activities during the past one year, efforts are now on to prevent Maoist strikes in the regions where the extremists were still active or trying to regroup. The success was achieved by busting of a number of Maoist camps and seizure of arms and ammunitions.

“We are trying our very best to bring down the Maoist violence profile in the State and provide security cover to developmental activities,” State Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told The Hindu on Thursday.

The DGP is happy over the performance of the State police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Border Security Force (BSF) that had given led to a decline in the Maoist violence in the State in 2011 when compared to 2010.

The total death roll relating to the Maoist menace stood at 49 in 2011, which was less than the previous year. The 49 deaths reported in the State this year include the death of two security personnel and auxiliary staff of the State police, death of nine police personnel from Chhattisgarh in a Maoist attack in Nuapada district a few months ago. The remaining deaths include 23 Maoists and remaining were civilians.

The regions where the police succeeded in arresting the growth of Maoists during 2011 include the districts such Keonjhar, Jajpur, and Dhenkanal. The menace was also brought under control to a great extent in Sundargarh district bordering Jharkhand, according to sources.

The police, however, are now focusing on deploying more Central forces in Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bargarh, and Bolangir districts where the Maoists are resorting to violence during the recent months. The other areas where efforts are being made to take on the Maoists in an effective way include portions of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and Rayagada districts.

Under surveillance
The top officials of the State police are now happy that they had managed to keep the Maoist problem under control in some regions, and are preparing to tackle them in other inaccessible areas in Koraput and Malkangiri districts in the coming months. Narayanpatna Block in Koraput is also under strict surveillance of the police where the situation is under control during the past few months.

However, going by the ground realities, it seems that it will take time to put an end to the Maoist problem that spread to 21 of the 30 districts in the State.

  • 49 persons died in Naxal violence this year

  • Maoist problem spreads to 21 of 30 districts