Infiltration worries Orissa cops

By Anurjay Dhal

BHUBANESWAR: With Orissa Chief Minister Naveen PatnaikNaveen Patnaik not sure about the proposed Operation Green Hunt, his police men here are blaming the Union Home Ministry for infiltration of Maoists into Malkangiri district through Chhattisgarh border.

The Police establishment here in eastern Indian State is very critical over the delayed deployment of additional companies of CRPF. Sources said that due to a secrete offensive prior to the main operation, a good number of Maoists leaders have shifted their hideout from Chhattisgarh.

The dense forests and hilly terrain of the Malkangiri district under the south-western range have been conducive to the movement of the Maoists whenever pressure mounts on them in Chhattisgarh. During their two-day long bandh, the rebels had wrecked havoc in all southwestern districts of Orissa.

A senior police official involved in anti-insurgency operations said that they have received information from Intelligence sleuths of Andhra Pradesh that a group of senior leftwing ultras have been infiltrated into Malkangiri.

AP DGP RR Girish Kumar, who recently visited the Andhra-Orissa border districts, reportedly talked to senior Orissa Police officials over this issue.

Meanwhile, reacting to delay of CRPF deployment, Chief Minister told reporters that he has asked the MHA for 7,000 CRPF personnel for the operation. “But, that has not been forthcoming," Patnaik added after returning from New Delhi.