BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Police on Tuesday talked of revisiting its operational strategies in the Maoist-affected districts.
While issuing fresh caution to SPs of the LWE-hit districts, Director General of Police KB Singh said the State Police might relook its operational practices in wake of the tragic incident in Sukma where 25 CRPF jawans were ambushed by the Naxals.
“We may have to take a fresh look at the security forces deployment, intelligence apparatus as well as tactical strategies in the vulnerable districts to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the State,” Singh told this paper.
In fact, the State Police had brought in changes in the standard operating procedures (SOP) after the February attack on a vehicle at Sunki Ghat in which eight police drivers died while they were on their way to Angul for training.
“The Sukma ambush must be used as a lesson. Although our strategies on the ground for road opening parties (ROPs) are completely different from what is adopted in Chhattisgarh, we will make continuous changes to remain a step ahead,” said sources in the State Police.
In the last five years, operational casualty in the State has dropped significantly. Going by available statistics, 23 security personnel have died in Naxal violence compared to 225 in Chhattisgarh though gravity of the LWE problem in the two States is completely different. The neighbouring State is the worst-affected by Maoist menace.
The Odisha Police sources said low operational casualty in the State could be because of the difference in strategies adopted by the police force. “We are rather low profile in our strategy while sending ROPs. Also, we do not approach road blockades instantly which are used as traps for ambush,” the sources added.
Chhattisgarh, to its disadvantage, has been undertaking massive road networks into Bastar heartland because of mining projects. The security forces are virtually used to patrol the road projects which expose them to the risk of getting hit at regular frequency as the recent history of violence would show.
Though the Sunki Ghat attack in Koraput was a setback, it was more of an administrative movement which is why the SOP was overlooked in use of the vehicle.
In operational movements, the security forces adopt more caution in the State, police officers claim. The last major ambush was in 2013 in Malkangiri.
“We adopt a sound operational procedure and it has worked for us in the last three to four years but that does not mean that we won’t take a fresh look at it after the Sukma incident,” the sources said.