March 31 deadline in sight, CRPF focuses on last Naxal pockets

Bhubaneswar: In the final push against Maoists ahead of the March 31 deadline, CRPF has zeroed in on last pockets — Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Rayagada districts — having residual presence of a handful of Maoist operatives in Odisha.

Amitendra Nath Sinha, inspector-general (Odisha sector), stated that the momentum created under the directive of Union home minister Amit Shah has instilled a stronger sense of urgency among the forces. He expressed confidence that the deadline set for March 31 would be met, marking a significant milestone in the state’s fight against Maoism.


“CRPF, as the lead paramilitary force in anti-Maoist operations, is working in close coordination with the Odisha police to ensure that the gains achieved over the past year-and-a-half are consolidated and not reversed,” IGP Sinha said.

Sources said the CRPF had drawn up a detailed, area-specific roadmap to prevent security gaps and recalibrated its deployment strategy to wipe out residual Maoist influence. This follows a series of successful operations that dismantled networks and neutralised key operatives, weakening the insurgency’s core structure in the past few months.

Sources said while overall force levels may be rationalised, security presence will continue in sensitive pockets to deter any resurgence. Sinha highlighted that the CRPF has played a pivotal role in the multi-state offensive to reclaim Maoist strongholds, maintaining a predominant presence in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nuapada, Rourkela and Nabarangpur.

“The recalibration of security operations is also aligned with a broader shift towards development-centric strategies in affected areas,” Sinha said.



. CRPF personnel are assisting govt agencies in executing development projects, conducting surveys in remote villages and identifying infrastructure deficits to prepare structured plans for welfare initiatives,” Sinha said.

He emphasised that the ministry of home affairs has directed forces to transition from crisis management to welfare and development, underscoring the importance of public outreach. “Operations apart, our focus is to materialise the govt’s safety and development agenda,” he said.