Bhubaneswar, Aug. 28: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Odisha police are acting on a joint strategy to combat the growing Maoist menace in the state with focus on neutralising rebels coming in from neighbouring states.

CRPF director-general Rajeev Bhatnagar, who met chief minister Naveen Patnaik here today to discuss the Maoist situation, said operations by security forces would be stepped in corridors being used by Maoists from neighbouring states such as Chhattisgarh to enter Odisha.

"We will intensify our operation and review deployment in such areas," said Bhatnagar.

Odisha director-general of police K.B. Singh, who had reviewed the anti-Maoist operations in the state along with Bhatnagar at a meeting held in Koraput yesterday, said the focus of the state police was on Malkangiri, Koraput, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts.

"We reviewed the situation and there will be a redeployment of forces wherever required," he said.

Bhatnagar appreciated the efforts of Odisha police in checking Maoist activists in the state.

"The CRPF is ready to fight the Maoists. We are working with the Odisha police, who are doing extremely well in this area," said the CRPF chief.

Yesterday, Bhatnagar had taken stock of security arrangements in Koraput district. He had visited the 202 CoBRA Battalion stationed at Sunabeda in the district before chairing a review meeting at the office of the DIG, Koraput. Apart from the Odisha DGP, many other senior police officials attended the meeting.

Koraput and Malkangiri are the key focus districts for the state's anti-Maoist operation as these are considered rebel strongholds and also share borders with Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, where the rebels enjoy strong bases.

The state police are also focusing on protecting informers, who are being increasingly targeted by the Maoists. In March, Odisha director-general of police, following a meeting with senior CRPF officials, had said that efforts would be made to ensure security and safety of informers. He had also advised informers to contact the nearest police stations and keep changing their locations.

Last March, the Maoists had killed an alleged police informer at Salpajla village in Muniguda police limits of Rayagada district. The body of Mali Pusika was found lying in a pool of blood on the outskirts of the village.

The Maoists had kidnapped Mali, along with another villager, Mandu Pusika, on March 19 suspecting them of being police informers. They killed Mali and released Mandu.