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Enhanced Security Measures in Rourkela

Rourkela: In response to recent Maoist activities, Odisha Police has developed a comprehensive security strategy for the Rourkela police district, as stated by a senior official on Tuesday.

This initiative follows a series of improvised explosive device (IED) detonations on railway tracks near the Odisha-Jharkhand border over the weekend, according to police reports.

The two separate explosions, which damaged railway infrastructure, occurred in both Odisha and Jharkhand.

One incident in the K Nuagaon police station area of Sundargarh district resulted in the death of a railway worker and left another injured. The Sundargarh revenue district encompasses both Sundargarh and Rourkela police districts.

Sanjeev Panda, the Additional Director General of Anti-Naxal Operations, visited the blast sites and conferred with local law enforcement. He noted that there had been no Maoist-related incidents in the Rourkela police district for the past seven years.

The last recorded Maoist activity in this area was in 2018, he added.

"Recently, however, there has been a resurgence of Maoist activities in the district. Therefore, we have decided to update our approach. A new blueprint has been established to address the Maoist threat," Panda informed reporters in Rourkela.

This strategic plan aligns with the Union Home Minister's goal of eliminating Maoism by March 2026, according to Panda.

"We aim to bolster our security framework in the district. This includes establishing new security camps, deploying more Special Operations Group (SOG) teams, and enhancing our intelligence capabilities. We are confident in our ability to achieve our objectives," the ADG of Odisha Police stated.

He also mentioned that Maoists are known to operate from the Saranda forest in Jharkhand, occasionally crossing into Odisha.

To counter this, Odisha Police will collaborate with Jharkhand authorities to conduct joint anti-Maoist operations in the region, Panda confirmed.

Regarding railway security, he added, "Our bomb disposal unit has successfully cleared the tracks on the Odisha side."