CRPF DG, discusses strategy with DGP to root out Naxal activities

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, July 12: CRPF Director General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar on Thursday  held discussion with Odisha DGP Dr RP Sharma about strategies to tackle left-wing extremism effectively in State.

An array of issues pertaining to Central forces and State police coordination were discussed in detail during the meeting also.

Rai told reporters after the meeting that several matters pertaining to relocation of camps, operating together with the State police and other paramilitary forces, coordinating with all teams, training together were discussed.

“We have had excellent coordination and cooperation with the Odisha police in the past. We expect that the same cooperation will continue in the forseeable future,” he said.

“There has been a significant reduction in Maoist activities in the vulnerable areas of Odisha. The momentum needs to keep going and our focus has to improve,” Rai added.

The CRPF DG said that most of the LWE cadres operating in Odisha are from neighbouring states. Therefore, the involvement of police of neighbouring states and Central forces is essential. The work has to go on with a joint strategy, he added.

Sharma said that matters relating to common interests were discussed at the meeting.

“The main objective of the meeting was to ensure how we can be more effective against LWE forces,” he said.

The Odisha DGP said, “CRPF has provided us eight battalions, the companies of which are deployed in 11 districts. Though we have good understanding and functioning efficiently, we discussed strategy to bring greater effectiveness in our measures against LWE.”

The most important among those being greater sharing of intelligence, more joint operations and better coordination at the cutting-edge levels in the districts, the DGP said adding, “I hope we (Odisha Police) will be much more effective in the coming days in our operations with the CRPF.”