BERHAMPUR: Maoist problem in the State continues to be a challenge for Odisha Police, said Director-General of Police (DGP) KB Singh. Maoist presence has been felt in Boudh, Angul and Sonepur districts and with this, the total number of Maoist-affected districts in the State has gone up to 19, said Singh here on Monday.
The DGP was on a two-day visit to Ganjam district to review the law and order situation. “Though the activities of the ultras are under control, they are not fully eliminated,” he said.
He said nine out of 30 districts of the State have been identified as the ‘Maoist-infested’ at present. Earlier, Kandhamal and Boudh districts were the stronghold of Maoists. Later, they tried to consolidate their base in Kalahandi district.
“We have discussed all the issues with SPs of Southern police range and tried to evolve a strategy to tackle the situation,” he said, adding that Maoists from other States are also sneaking into remote and inaccessible pockets of Odisha and to check their movement, patrolling and combing has been intensified.
The DGP said as Maoists target unemployed youths to induct them into the outfit, police are conducting police-public relationship camps at frequent intervals. To a query, he said the Commissionerate Police system for Berhampur was in the pipeline and it would be implemented soon. The State Government had announced the Commissionerate Police system for Berhampur about three years ago. The DGP said a new SP for Berhampur would be posted soon. The post was lying vacant after the transfer of the SP to Puri.
The DGP also interacted with members of Ganjam Chamber of Commerce, Ganjam Bar Association and leaders of different communities. Earlier in the day, the DGP inaugurated the new building of Khalikote police station, constructed at the cost of `two crore. Earlier, Singh reviewed the law and order situation in five Southern districts including Ganjam, Berhampur, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati with the SPs concerned, and said the situation in all these districts was “by and large” under control.
(With PTI Inputs)