Bhubaneswar, May 4: The Orissa government has decided to raise another 50 special operations group (SOG) to combat the Maoist menace in the state.
Home secretary U.N. Behera said: “The state has already formed 50 SOG units comprising 1,800 jawans. Another 1,800 jawans will be recruited under the SOG units.”
Apart from raising the SOG units, the government is also planning to set up four counter-insurgency anti-terrorists (CIT) schools in Orissa.
An SOG jawan works till the age of 30 and is later posted to the district volunteer force (DVF).
They are well trained in handling all modern weapons. After the Centre asked the government not to depend on central forces, the state has started raising its own forces. Orissa has also decided to strengthen its intelligence network.
Now, five battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF), seven battalions of the CRPF, 50 units of the SOG, four battalions of the India Reserve Battalions (IRB) and personnel of one Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (cobra) battalion have been put into service across the Maoists-infested districts in Orissa. While the BSF has been deployed in Malkangiri and Koraput, CRPF jawans have been posted in Rayagada, Gajapati, Sundergarh, Kandhamal, Maurbhanj, Deogarh and Keonjhar.
Behera said the proposed counter-insurgency anti-terrorist schools would impart training to the jawans of Orissa Police. The schools would come up at Chandaka, Rourkela and Koraput. Similarly, police training schools would also come up at Bairi and Sambalpur. “We have plans to recruit another 5,000 constables to fill up the vacancies. The government has already given the financial approval,” Behera said.
The Orissa government has decided to urge the Centre to initiate steps in providing an 18-seater chopper to the state. “We have started negotiating with the Pawan Hansh. During our proposed meeting with the cabinet secretary, we have decided to raise this issue,” said a senior officer.
Sources said the Orissa government had also decided to urge the Centre to start a fresh dialogue with the Andhra Pradesh regarding construction of the Motu bridge on the Saberi river in Malkangiri.
“The Andhra Pradesh government has assured us to start construction of the bridge. Once the bridge is constructed, police movement in the inaccessible pockets will certainly increased,” an official said.
After the Maoists had killed 11 police personnel in Jharkhand on Tuesday, the Orissa government asked the superintendents of police (SPs) of Maoist-infested districts to remain on high alert.
Today, hundreds of people gheraoed the Daringbadi block in Kandhamal demanding immediate release of innocent people who had been arrested on a mere suspicion for their involvement in the Maoist activities. “However, police dispersed the mobs. The situation is under control,” said a senior official.