BHUBANESWAR: Additional Director General of BSF Arun Kumar said anti-Naxal operations will be intensified in the cut-off areas of Malkangiri district and bordering areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Talking to media persons here on Thursday, Kumar said the focus is on the cut-off areas of Malkangiri and Tulsi Dongri (hill) on the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border to check the Naxal activities.
“The security forces of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh will also hold a joint coordination meeting at Visakhapatnam on October 10 to discuss tackling the Naxal menace more robustly,” he informed.
At least eight battalions of BSF have been deployed in the State to counter the Naxal menace. The BSF personnel are deployed in undivided Koraput region comprising Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts. Each battalion of BSF consists of about 1,000 personnel.
Kumar said more than 2,000 personnel had laid down their lives while safeguarding the country at the bordering areas besides during counter-insurgency operations and handling the internal security threats.
The BSF is also going to organize Half Marathon on October 22 in several cities of the country, including Bhubaneswar, to commemorate the sacrifices made by the personnel for the well-being and safety of the nation.
“The event will have three categories - 21 kms Half Marathon for men and women (18 years and above), 10 kms Run for Run for men and women (18 years and above) and five kms Run for Run for children (below 14 years). The winners will be awarded cash prizes and trophies,” a BSF official said.
Kumar launched a website www.bsfhalfmarathonodisha.com which will provide information about the event. The participants can register by either paying Rs 100 online or by paying the same amount at the counters which will be opened near prominent parks in Bhubaneswar on October 14.
“The money collected from the event would be deposited in the welfare fund meant for the families of the personnel, especially the martyrs,” he added. Inspector General of BSF AK Singh was also present.