Malkangiri, Sept 2: Noting that the developmental works in the remote and cut-off areas in Odisha have come to a standstill due to active presence of the Maoists, the state government has decided to intensify anti-Maoist operations.
As parts of the strategy of the state government, DIG of south-western range, S Saini yesterday took note of the situation in the cut-off areas in Malkangiri district. After her arrival in the district headquarters here, Saini, accompanied a team of armed policemen led by the district Superintendent of Police, reached the BSF camp at Badapada the cut-off area in Pawan Hans’s helicopter and had a discussion with the BSF personnel on anti-Maoist operation. Later she visited the place where the former district collector, R Vineel Krishna was abducted. She also went to the nearby villages covering a distance of 7-10 km by foot after crossing small rivers with the help of country boats and interacted with the villagers about their problems and assured them of necessary help by the district administration.
There are 151 villages in seven panchayats in the cut-off area of Malkangiri district surrounded by hills and dense forest. Since there is no communication to these villages, the people are deprived of basic amenities. Taking advantage of the inaccessibility, this area has become a safe haven for the Maoists of Kudumulugumma Dalam who had ambushed 38 Grey Hound personnel of Andhra Pradesh police at Alampakka area on June 29, 2008 and later abducted former district collector R Vineel Krishna on February 16, 2011.
