Berhampur, Nov. 8: Director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) K. Vijay Kumar called upon the security forces in three southern districts (Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal) to be ready for combating Maoists.

Kumar discussed with the senior police officers at Bhanjanagar in Ganjam to further streamline the joint operation, while taking stock of the situation in the Maoist-hit areas of the three southern districts.

During the meeting, senior officials of the state police, including inspector general (operations) Y.B. Khurania, deputy inspector general of southern range R.K. Sharma, and CRPF commandant of 127 battalion Joginder Singh, were present.

The CRPF chief, who visited Mohana in Gajapati district and Bhanjanagar in Ganjam, also made an aerial survey of the forested areas of Daringibadi and Kerubadi, a local CRPF officer said.

The security forces had arrested three suspected Maoists — Janardan Pradhan, Mahipati Pradhan and Salman Pradhan — from Daringibadi in Kandhamal district yesterday.

The police recovered a tiffin bomb during the joint combing operation on Rubangi-Ramnabadi Road under Sorada police station in Ganjam on November 5.

In September, the police had destroyed a Maoist camp at Kerubadi forest in Kandhamal during combing operation and seized six firearms.

Some important documents were also seized from the spot.

Kandhamal police seized four tiffin bombs near Manipur under Daringibadi police station on October 18.

Last year, the Maoists had blown up an ambulance in Kandhamal and police seized landmines on Daringibadi-Brahmanigaon Road.