Post News Network
Jajpur, Dec 11: With Kalinganagar emerging as a major industrial hub in the state, CPI (Maoists) is said to be working out a plant to broaden its base in the district. It was learnt that the left wing extremists have set their eyes on Kalinganagar to use it as a gateway to recoup their lost base in Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, security forces stepped up combing operation in the mineral-rich Tamka area Friday, even though SP Anup Kumar Sahu dismissed the report that Maoists are active in remote pockets of the district.
Sahu said the combing operation is routine and it will continue.
Woman Maoist Namasi Gundua (18) alias Sasmita belonging to Kalinganagar division of the outfit surrendered before police October 9. Her surrender itself indicates the presence of Maoists in the district.
Police claim that with the arrest and surrender of several Maoist cadres, left wing activities have been on the wane in Jajpur.
However, it is suspected that Samsita might have revealed something to the police about the ongoing activities of the ultras in the district after which combing operation was intensified. Maoists, though remaining low profile in various parts of the state, reportedly have connection with their counterparts in neighbouring states.
Their aim is to strengthen Kalinganagar division of CPI (Maoists), as the industrial hub has the advantage of good road and rail connectivity. The fringes of Jajpur district are replete with forests, which will give a safe corridor to the Maoists to enter from Jharkhand.
Besides, the fringe areas sharing borders with Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts are mostly backward where people nurse deep grudge against the administration.
Unemployed youths particularly in Similipal, Harichandanpur, Daitari, Bali Parbat and Tamka will be their arsenals. There are good chances that the ultras will camouflage themselves as contractual works in the industrial hub and build rapport with their counterparts in Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
It is learnt that CPI (Maoist) Central committee has rightly understood the vantage point of Kalinganagar to consolidate their foothold while main Maoist cadre Anna Reddy is taking the lead in the forests.
Before the surrender of Sasmita, there were reports of Maoist activities in Kaliapani and Daitari of Jajpur and Kankadahad in Dhenkanal.
CRPF jawans had seized a huge cache of explosives in Palaspal reserve forest, 15 km from Daitari police station September 7.
Four months ago, ultras had organised a feast in the forest PNN