Bhubaneswar, Jan. 4: Jolted by Sunday’s encounter in which five Maoists were killed near Tomka in Jajpur district, the state government is gearing up to launch a two-pronged attack on the rebels.

Sources said while coercive action against the rebels would be stepped up, a determined attempt would also be made to cut off their support base among the tribals. The encounter in Jajpur was an eye opener for the police brass as it indicated that rebels were almost within the striking distance of the state capital.

“Since the Maoists have been taking advantage of the poverty and underdevelopment of tribals and other disadvantaged sections, it has become imperative to launch an initiative for the economic development of these communities so that they stop cooperating with the rebels,” said a senior official indicating that a blue-print in this regard was being prepared.

Keonjhar superintendent of police (SP) Ashish Kumar Singh said efforts were also on to make the police force in the Naxalite belt more people-friendly by organising health camps and problem-solving meetings in villages. “We have also been encouraging the rebels to give up arms. At least 11 Maoists have surrendered in our district since February last while 35 have been arrested,” the SP said.

On the other hand, combing operation along Keonjhar-Jajpur border has been stepped up in the wake of Sunday’s incident in which five rebels, including four women cadres, were killed. The police had also recovered more than a dozen rifles besides some detonators from the spot of the encounter.

Sources said the encounter was a wake-up call for the state police as Jajpur happens to be around 120 km from the state capital. More importantly, intelligence reports suggested that the rebels were on their way to participate in the Martyrs’ Day rally organised by the anti-industry activists at Kalinga Nagar, an emerging industrial hub.

“One shudders to think what might have happened had the rebels managed to reach the industrial hub Kalinga Nagar,” said an official. The government had long suspected the hand of Maoists behind the anti-industry movement in Kalinga Nagar where 14 tribals were killed in a police firing in 2006 while protesting against the construction of a boundary wall around the land allotted to a major industrial house in the area.

The firing further intensified the agitation and the suspicion about Maoist support to the movement was almost confirmed when sometime later the police arrested a Naxalite leader who allegedly confessed to his role in stoking the anti-industry fire in Kalinga Nagar.