Koraput: Police have launched a campaign to counter the spread of Maoists in the district.

Worried over increased Maoist activities in the interior pockets of the district, the police have launched Saathi-2018, a programme aimed at creating a friendly environment between the law-enforcing agencies and people to counter the influence of Maoists on them.

According to top police officers, the campaign, which is on in full swing at Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon, Pottangi and Boipariguda police limits, has won the appreciation of the people.

They said the campaign includes rural sport and games, entertainment programmes, street plays and medical camps that send anti-Maoist message apart from addressing the grievances of the people. In the past one week, the police had organised these camps at Maoist strongholds of Dandavadi and Balipeta. The camps saw the participation of over thousands of villagers. Officials said medicines worth Rs 50,000 were also distributed free to the needy at the camps.

"This is a good move by the police. The fear of the police is not seen among those attending the camps. Now, we can freely lodge out complaints with the police," said Laxman Pangi, who took part in the initiative at Peteru in Pottangi police limits on Friday.

A police officer said various problems that people faced in their respective villages were also being addressed.

"Most of the villagers raised problems regarding lack of drinking water, education and road connectivity. The civil administration will be apprised of these problems and the authorities concerned will be intimated for speedy restoration of the facilities," said Koraput police chief Kanwar Vishal Singh.

Singh said the exercise would build the confidence of the people in the police and help bring misguided tribal youths to the mainstream.

"After these efforts, several people have approached the police with their problems. We urge villagers to approach the police freely without any hesitation," he said.

The Koraput police plan to organise at least 40 such camps in the Maoist-hit areas of Laxmipur, Nandapur and Pottangi police limits in the next one month.