Bhubaneswar: Police are keen to chalk out plans to protect informers, who provide vital intelligence on the movement of Maoists, following a spate of rebel violence against civilians on charges of being informers.

The police have, in recent months, stepped up their drive against the Maoists.

The move is significant considering the fact that most of the 11 civilians casualties in 2017 in Malkangiri, their stronghold, were alleged police informers.

Efforts to shield informers began last March following a meeting between the then director-general of police, K.B. Singh, and additional DGP, CRPF, Kuldip Singh, in Bhubaneswar. The cops had advised the informers to keep changing their locations while remaining in touch with the nearest police station.

Rayagada additional superintendent of police Jagannath Rao underscored the importance of ensuring the safety of informers saying that they were crucial to the success of the state's operation against the rebels. "We cannot win the battle against the Maoists without good informers. Hence, it is important that we inspire confidence among them," said Rao, who has also worked in Koraput, which is among the districts worst affected by the Maoist menace.

Last October, the Maoists had gunned down an alleged informer, whom they also suspected of transporting ration for security forces deployed in the "cut-off" areas of Malkangiri district, so-called because of its difficult topography. Sama Pangi was shot dead by a group of rebels near the Chitrakonda reservoir spillway ghat in Malkangiri.

Pangi, who had left his native village following threats from the Maoists, had sought police protection.

Following the incident, Malkangiri police had stepped up their vigil at the ferry stations of the reservoir and also decided to use helicopters for carrying food materials for BSF jawans stationed in the "cut-off " areas as a precautionary measure for the time being. Last year, the Maoists had also killed an alleged police informer at Salpajla village within Muniguda police limits of Rayagada district.

The body of Mali Pusika, who was kidnapped by the rebels on March 19 along with a co-villager, had been found on the village outskirts next morning.