Ranchi, Sept. 27: The Jharkhand government has accused Orissa of non-cooperation in anti-extremism operations.

The government believes that various underground outfits, including the People’s War and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), have made Orissa a training ground for new recruits. Though the Orissa government has refuted the allegations, its Jharkhand counterpart said it had evidence to corroborate the charge.

The Jharkhand government’s allegations are based on confessional statements of the outlaws arrested during counter-extremism operations in the state, sources said. Alarmed over the developments, the Jharkhand government has flashed a fresh proposal to the Naveen Patnaik government to initiate joint operation against the extremist outfits in bordering districts of the two states. Official sources alleged that Orissa had turned down such proposals made by the Jharkhand government earlier.

The move comes close on the heels of chief minister Babulal Marandi lashing out at his Chhattisgarh counterpart Ajit Jogi and accusing him of “not being serious” in tackling the Naxalite issue. Marandi went on record to say that the extremists operating in Jharkhand were seeking shelter in Chhattisgarh. The chief minister had not only attacked Jogi but also accused the earlier Congress governments in the state of “harbouring extremists”. He alleged that the Jogi government did not extend help when the Jharkhand government proposed a joint operation.

But political observers feel that Marandi’s statement was more “political” than “administrative”, given that there is a Congress government in Chhattisgarh. Though the state police launched several joint operations with their Chhattisgarh counterparts, Orissa did not volunteer for such a move in the bordering districts, sources claimed.

“Marandi was vocal against Jogi. But he cannot make a similar statement against his Orissa counterpart since the ruling Biju Janata Dal is an important ally of the BJP-led coalition at the Centre,” sources added.

Besides, the proposal for a joint operation with Orissa police, the state police have been regularly writing to Orissa about the activities and movements of the outfits and their cadre. “Last time there was an encounter near Chaibasa, we informed Orissa about a split group of the MCC sneaking into that state. But there was no response,” claimed a senior officer associated with anti-extremist operations in Jharkhand.

Government sources said that following anti-Naxalite operations in Jharkhand most of the outfits have shifted their base to Orissa and Chhattisgarh. “Whenever the underground outfits launch a major operation, they immediately sneak into bordering states. This has made our task difficult. This is why we have been pressing for a joint operation against these outfits,” inspector-general of police (operations) R.C. Kaithal said.