Odisha to join hands with AP to take on Maoists

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.

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.

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.

"We have decided at the meeting to undertake joint operations at the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border," Sharma said.

On Monday, before leaving for Visakhapatnam, Sharma had told reporters that the Odisha Police would intensify intelligence-based operations against the Maoists.

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.

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.

Two days ago, the Odisha Police had gunned down at least seven Maoists in separate operations in Bolangir and Kandhamal districts.