CRPF DG visits Odisha's maoist hit areas

BHUBANESWAR: The Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) Director General (DG) Prakash Mishra today reviewed operation of the para-military forces in the left wing extremism (LWE) hit southern districts of Odisha here.

This is was Mishra's first review meeting of the Maoist situation in the state after becoming chief of the central paramilitary force.

Mishra reached the CRPF camp at Chandrapur in Rayagada district and met some of the personnel engaged in the anti- Maoist operation.

Accompanied by CRPF IG Pankaj Kumar and Odisha's intelligence wing chief Sunil Ray and other top officers engaged in anti-maoist operation, Mishra is also scheduled to visit other Maoist districts like Malkangiri and Koraput.

Mishra may also visit the cut-off areas on the other side of the Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district where a joint operation of Odisha police and Andhra Pradesh's Grey Hound claimed to have eliminated at least seven ultras during an encounter last week.

As the Odisha police has intensified its operation and launched a drive to capture Ram Krishna, a top Maoist activist in the state, Mishra's visit at this juncture is considered significant.

Mishra, after taking charge as the CRPF DG, had said that his experience as the DGP of Odisha police would help him in fighting against Maoists.