Bulletproof boats for anti-Maoist operation

PC: Bulletproofindia.com

Bhubaneswar, Apr 19 (PTI) To keep a watch on the movement of left wing extremists in the cut-off areas of Malkangiri district BSF has come forward to provide two bulletproof boats for patrolling Balimela reservoir for anti-Maoist operation.

"BSF has decided to provide two bulletproof boats for patrolling in the cut-off area. The boats will be available by June/July," BSF Director General Krishna Kumar Sharma told reporters after a meeting with the Odisha Director General of Police K B Singh.

The cut-off area comprising about 150 villages and seprated by the Balimela reservoir is known as the fort of the Maoists. Three sides of the cut-off area is encircled by the reservoir, while it has land connectivity with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh through dense forest route.

The bulletproof boats would not only help intensify patrolling in cut-off areas but also help in anti-Maoist operation, the BSF DG said adding the force has been camping in the banks of Balimela reservoir and providing protection to the ongoing construction of Gurupriya bridge to connect the cut-off area with Chitrakonda block of Odisha's Malkangiri district.

Singh said the security personnel are serious about the presence of Maoists in some parts of Malkangiri and Koraput district.

Official sources said the discussions between the Odisha DGP and the BSF DG were mostly on information sharing, deployment and more utilisation of BSF for anti-Maoist operation.