8K SQ KM OF BASTAR LIBERATED FROM CPI MAOISTS: IG BASTAR

BASTAR: More than 8,000 square kilometres area of Bastar, one of the worst Naxal-hit region in the country, has now been freed from the clutches of CPI Maoists in recent years, said Inspector General of Bastar P. Sundarraj on Tuesday.

Sundarraj said this was possible due to more than 24 security camps established in these areas followed by development works initiated by the local administrations.

“In last few years due to the multi-pronged development and security strategy of the government, the security forces and local administration have made inroads into the erstwhile stronghold areas of Left Wing Extremists in Dandakaranya area,” Sundarraj said.

“The well thought out strategy by the government is yielding tremendous positive outcomes and in the last couple of years, more than 8,000 sq km area of Bastar region have been liberated from the clutches of CPI Maoists. This was primarily possible due to more than 24 security camps established in these areas followed by development works initiated by the local administrations,” the IG said.

Sundarraj said the road networks and bridges being constructed with the help of these security camps in Minapa, Tarrem, Galgam, Dharmawaram, Bodli, Kademeta, Koleng, Sonpur, Kohkametta, Kamdeta, Katgaon, Fundri and Potali have opened up the doors for the local tribal population to the outside world.

“CPI Maoist general secretary Basavaraju and his gang very well knew that once the tribal youth from the Dandakaranya gets connected to the outside world, the hollow and false propaganda being carried out by Naxals against the institutions and establishments of the legitimate democratic governments would get exposed,” he said.

Sundarraj further said that the fear of being exposed and getting extinct is stimulating the Maoist leadership to unleash cruelty and terror against the local population in order to confine them to the dark world, which they were trying to manage for the last four decades.ANI