Bhubaneswar: In a major success for Odisha Police’s sustained anti-Naxal operations, Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on Sunday declared Balangir and Bargarh as Naxal-free districts.
Hours earlier, 15 cadres of the Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund (BBM) division of the banned CPI (Maoist) surrendered before police in neighbouring Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district.
Following their surrender, both Bargarh and Balangir have now become free from Naxal activities, the DGP said.
Khurania said joint operations conducted over a prolonged period, precise intelligence inputs, coordinated efforts of central as well as state security forces and active cooperation from local residents contributed to the complete elimination of Naxal activities from these two districts.
The DGP lauded the courage, restraint and unwavering commitment of the police force.
Khurania also congratulated all officers and personnel who were part of the operations and expressed gratitude to the people for their trust and continued support.
“Similar intensified operations will continue in other affected areas of the state to ensure the complete eradication of the Naxal problem at the earliest,” the DGP.
