Armed with specific intelligence inputs, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh would carry out joint operations against Maoists active on both sides of the border.

Both the states have also decided to develop the required infrastructure to combat the growing menace of Left-wing extremism.

Top police officials of the two states met here on Friday to discuss a joint strategy against the rebels, who on September 23 gunned down a sitting TDP MLA and a former MLA in Andhra Pradesh close to Odisha border. Maoist central committee member Ramakrish alias RK, who also heads the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh Border Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoist), is believed to have planned the attack that was carried out mainly by women cadres of the banned outfit.

Describing the meeting as “fruitful”, Odisha director-general of police R.P. Sharma said it had become imperative to tackle the Maoist threat along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border.

While the meeting laid emphasis on aspects such as joint operations and intelligence sharing between the two states, Andhra director-general of police R.P. Thakur underscored the need to develop infrastructure such as road network and telephone connectivity.

Sharma indicated that drones could be used to keep vigil over the strategically located Gurupriya bridge that connects Malkangiri district’s “cut-off” area, so called because of its difficult topography, with the mainland.

The bridge was inaugurated by Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on July 26. Sharma said while two CCTVs had been installed on the bridge that was being guarded round the clock by the BSF, there was also a plan to have drones for surveillance.

Sources said the meeting also discussed issues such as tactical deployment of security forces along the border and enhancing inter-state co-ordination, particularly conducting joint operations in the core areas.

Friday’s meeting followed the congregation of senior police officers of seven eastern region states in Bhubaneswar on June 8 this year to chalk out a joint strategy against the Maoists. That conference had also underscored the importance of joint operations and intelligence sharing to bring down the incidence of Left-wing insurgency.