Orissa DGP visited Naxal Area
Sunday, January 7, 2007
The DGP visited police establishments in Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri in full uniform. He even traveled from Rayagada to Koraput by road, and in full uniform.
Arms and ammunition alone cannot fight die-hard ultras who have been on the rampage in South Orissa for nearly a decade. It’s the force’ morale that only can weaken the influence of extremists. And, to boost the morale of the men fighting on the field, senior officers must go to the field and feel the pulse of the force. Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak means it, strongly. After years of isolation, the force in this region is buoyed over Pattanayak’s three-day tour of the Naxal-hit districts.
The DGP visited police establishments in Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri in full uniform. He even traveled from Rayagada to Koraput by road, and in full uniform. Road journey and uniform are considered a bane in Naxal-affected districts. But, Pattanayak dared to shed this belief. An officer who fought from front the deadly Ulfa terrorists for years is, perhaps, ought to carry such attitude.
“Generally senior officers’ visit to these areas does not hold much importance for us since they hold meetings with SPs and DIG and go back. But, this time, the DGP spent time with us and interacted,” said a jawan of the 3rd battalion of the State Armed Police in Koraput. One could feel the difference following the DGP’s extensive tour, said a superintendent of police of one of the Naxal-affected districts.
Not only the district police offices and the armed police battalion, Pattanayak even visited the police barracks in these districts where sepoys stay. He sat there, interacted with them and tried to find out their difficulties. The DGP’s tour was less of inspections and meetings and more of interactions. In the DPOs, he also interacted with the accounts and ministerial staff and went around the storerooms. This is unusual and unconventional of a DGP. But, being unusual and unconventional is what Pattanayak is known for.
Pattanayak’s predecessor Suchit Das had once visited Motu in Malkangiri and Das’ predecessor B.B.Mishra never visited Malkangiri. Malkangiri had been a forbidden land for senior police officials including DGPs, but Pattanayak extensively toured the district, and in uniform.
At the end of his tour, the DGP had a strong message for the force and officers - that he means business, and men fighting on the field must be taken care of by the district police heads.
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Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 1/07/2007 09:13:00 PM,
