Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh air-dashed to the Maoist-infested Malkangiri district on Friday to review the security arrangements for the panchayat polls.
He along with other senior police officials also visited regions of cut-off area of Balimela reservoir, where the conduct of the polls is under Maoist threat.
Mr Singh held discussions with the officers of the State police and Border Security Force (BSF) and reviewed poll preparations at Malkangiri district police headquarters.
Later speaking to the newsmen, the DGP said, “It is a welcome sign that despite all problems in the cut-off area, nomination for 12 panchayat samity members has been received.”
Security forces are prepared to ensure safe and peaceful conduct of the polls in the Naxal-affected areas through preventive measures and deployment of extra force, he added.
IED recovered
On Friday, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), weighing 50 kg, a detonator and long wire were recovered by the security forces from Paniganda jungle under Adava police station limits in Gajapati district.
Meanwhile, through a release to the local media, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) organisation has again called for boycott of panchayat polls in the Malkangiri district.
Threatening posters by Naxalites have appeared in Lamtaput block of Koraput district. The Maoists have threatened to kill candidates in the polls and to chop thumbs of those who will vote in it. In Narayanpatna block of Koraput district also, Maoists posters have asked people not to vote.
PTI adds:
Stating that “adequate” forces would be deployed in the disturbed area, besides intensifying patrolling, the DGP said the people have already rejected the Maoists’ call by filing nominations. “We will ensure the safety and security of the candidates,” he added.
While urging the ultras to shun violence and surrender, Mr Singh said the State has been planning to launch an anti-Maoist operation along with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The DGP claimed that Maoist activities had come down across Odisha and many ex-cadres of the banned outfits had surrendered.
At the BSF camps, accompanied by IG Operations RP Koche, DIG S Saini and DIG Narasingha Bhola, the DGP took stock of the security arrangements for the panchayat polls.
The Left-wing extremism poses a major challenge before the police ahead of the polls as the Maoists kidnapped some poll officials and an ex-sarpanch from the remote area of Panasput, Chitrakonda on January 13.
All those kidnapped were later released with a threat not to take part in the elections.
In October 2016, a joint operation of Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhounds commandos and Odisha’s SOG had eliminated at least 18 ultras in the cut-off areas.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has been contemplating to announce the dates for filing of nominations at Panasput, Jantri, Andrapalli, Jodamba, Gajamudi of Chitrakonda in Malkangiri where the process has not been held.
The Commission would take a decision after January 21 on the basis of inputs from the local SP and Collector, the officials said. - PTI
“It is a welcome sign that despite all problems, nominations for 12 posts have been received”
