Bhubaneswar, May 30: The 9th Special India Reserve Battalion, which will be deployed in the state's Maoist-affected belt, came into existence today with chief minister Naveen Patnaik wishing success to the 490 jawans, who form the latest unit of the crack force.
Speaking at the raising day event of the new battalion to be located in Kalahandi, the district where Maoist footprints have become visible in the past one year, Naveen said the force would provide security cover for construction of vital roads, bridges and culverts in the areas marked by rebel activities.
"Raising of the Special India Reserve Battalion will fill up a critical gap in the existing operational preparedness as well as in the development of infrastructure in these areas," Naveen said.
Pointing out that the government had launched special campaigns to fill up the vacant posts, Naveen said many posts had also been created in essential services, including police, fire services and prisons.
"I am happy that online application process was adopted for the first time in the state police. I would like all recruitment agencies to adopt such methods for ease and convenience of the candidates and lend transparency to the process," Naveen said.
The raising of the new battalion had become imperative in view of sudden spurt in Maoist activities in the state with the rebels targeting "police informers" in particular. In March, they killed Mali Pusika from Salpajla village in the Muniguda police limits of Rayagada district after branding him a police informer. Mali's body had been found at an isolated place on the village outskirts.
The rebels had kidnapped Mali and Mandu Pusika, the former's neighbour on March 19 on the suspicion of being police informers. While the Maoists released Mandu, Mali did not return home.
This prompted director-general of police K.B. Singh to focus on the security of police informers in the Maoist belt.
Following a meeting with the Central Reserve Police Force's additional director-general Kuldip Singh a few months ago, the director-general of police had said that police informers would be advised to keep changing their locations frequently while maintaining contact with the local police stations.
