RAYAGADA: Communication network, which plays a vital role in any operation against anti-national forces, remains a handicap for security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operation in remote pockets of the district.
The Left Wing Extremists (LWE) are active in Kalyansingpur, Muniguda, Bissamcuttack, Kashipur and Rayagada blocks of Rayagada district which has been the hotbed of the Maoists for the last three decades. The outfit is also mobilising its cadres to regain the base in Chandrapur block which has common border with Gajapati and Phulbani districts.
Considering the LWE penetration into remote areas, a highly active mobile phone network is necessary to not only gather information about the extremists but also keep a track on their movement. But, presently only 59 BSNL mobile towers provide service to about half of 10 lakh population of the district. Besides, no mobile service is available in remote pockets where the Naxals are active.
According to the sources, in order to facilitate anti-Naxal operation, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has erected 18 satellite-linked mobile towers in the district. Except for these towers, the rest are not functioning effectively. The Central Government has also installed seven Digital Satellite Public Telephone (DSPT) in the district but those are also irregular in service.
Under the circumstances, the repetition of Sukma type carnage, in which 25 CRPF personnel were killed by the Maoists, cannot be ruled out in Rayagada. The CRPF and Intelligence sources opine that lack of mobile communication service helped the Left ultras execute such a massive operation easily against the security forces.
Security threat
Only 59 BSNL mobile towers provide service to about half of 10 lakh population of Rayagada district
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has erected 18 satellite-linked mobile towers
Digital Satellite Public Telephone are irregular in service