Malkangiri: Andhra Pradesh and Odisha governments have started chalking out a special strategy to counter the Reds operating on the fringe areas.
This development has come in the wake of Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik holding talks about dealing with Left wing extremists operating in Malkangiri and bordering areas in the neighbouring state.
The two governments are going to launch ‘Daman’, a special anti-Maoist operation drive soon.
A blueprint on its modalities has been made ready, reports said. A special police force to be called ‘Daman Bahini’ will be formed with police personnel of Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh and Bhadradri district of Telangana.
Jawans now working in Malkangiri will also be part of the special force. A special intelligence wing will be stationed at Chitrakonda in Malkangiri to provide ground inputs about the activities of the Left wing ultras.
In case needs arise, the forces will be allowed to use helicopters of the Air Force, besides the use of the state-of-the-art technology in the anti-Maoist operations.
A special office will be opened for the purpose to coordinate the activities of the Daman Bahini while satellite inputs, cameras and modern weapons will be used.
Nearly 2,000 police personnel from the two states will be deployed in the fringe areas. The Daman Bahini will start operation in four areas of Swabhiman Anchal and two panchayats in Andhra Pradesh.
In the initial phase, police deployment will be made in Swabhiman Anchal in December. This step has been taken in view of the upcoming panchayat elections in Malkangiri.
Police deployment will maintain law and order which may be disturbed by the Left wing rebels ahead of the elections.
It may be recalled that panchayat polls could not be held in 18 panchayats of Swabhiman Anchal due to fear of Maoists in 2017. However, the current situation here is quite different from what it was in 2017.
Maoists used to have their hold in Jodamba, Paparmetla and Hantalguda areas. BSF camps have been set up in these areas. Amid these developments, local people have reposed their faith on the forces.
Despite this security measures, Maoist outfits like Gumma Anchalika Bahini, Korukunda Maoist Sangathan, Malkangiri, Koraput and Vishakhapatnam Sanghan are making strategies to regain their hold in Swabhiman Anchal.
This has become a cause of concern for the government.
PNN