<p class="title">Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will jointly launch anti-Maoist operations to flush out the rebels from the state, Director General of Police R P Sharma on Tuesday said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After returning from Visakhapatnam where he held a meeting with his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh, Sharma said the meeting laid emphasis on coordination between the two states during operations against left-wing extremists.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, the two states had jointly conducted a one-off operation against the Maoists in the cut-off area of Malkangiri district in Odisha, known to be a Maoist stronghold.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have decided at the meeting to undertake joint operations at the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border," Sharma said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Monday, before leaving for Visakhapatnam, Sharma had told reporters that the Odisha Police would intensify intelligence-based operations against the Maoists.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sharma had said the state will also coordinate more closely with other states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, to come down heavily on the ultras.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He also said efforts are on to strengthen the intelligence network in Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, where Maoists pose a challenge to the state government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two days ago, the Odisha Police had gunned down at least seven Maoists in separate operations in Bolangir and Kandhamal districts. </p>
<p class="title">Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will jointly launch anti-Maoist operations to flush out the rebels from the state, Director General of Police R P Sharma on Tuesday said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After returning from Visakhapatnam where he held a meeting with his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh, Sharma said the meeting laid emphasis on coordination between the two states during operations against left-wing extremists.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, the two states had jointly conducted a one-off operation against the Maoists in the cut-off area of Malkangiri district in Odisha, known to be a Maoist stronghold.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We have decided at the meeting to undertake joint operations at the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border," Sharma said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Monday, before leaving for Visakhapatnam, Sharma had told reporters that the Odisha Police would intensify intelligence-based operations against the Maoists.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sharma had said the state will also coordinate more closely with other states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, to come down heavily on the ultras.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He also said efforts are on to strengthen the intelligence network in Koraput, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, where Maoists pose a challenge to the state government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two days ago, the Odisha Police had gunned down at least seven Maoists in separate operations in Bolangir and Kandhamal districts. </p>