Bhubaneswar: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to make its all centres in Maoist prone areas in the country as development hubs, said CRPF DG, Prakash Mishra on Sunday.
“We want that the development work should begin very soon at all centres in the Maoist prone areas where the CRPF companies are presently deployed and these locations be made as development hubs so that the people would be more attracted to the district administration and the development in their area which will subsequently lead to decline in the Maoist activities in these areas,” said Mishra, who arrived in Odisha to oversee the functioning of the CRPF.
Mishra said the CRPF has started its work in this regard with the help of the Chhattisgarh government.
Stating that with the initiation of the work, there has been much improvement in the Maoist prone Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh, he said the development hubs would be set up in the remaining centres very soon.
“We are ready to help the Odisha government if it takes adequate steps in this regard,” Mishra said when asked whether the CRPF has any plan to set up development hubs in the state.
To another question on whether the CRPF would deploy two battalions in Odisha which the state government has been demanding for a long time, he said the CRPF cannot take a decision on this.
“It is only by the order and decision of the Home ministry the CRPF will act,” he pointed out.
The CRPF DG, during his visit, also met the jawans in the hospitals who have fallen sick after doing their duties in the Maoist-prone districts.
Praising the gesture of Mishra, Asit Kumar Mandal, a jawan of 19th Battalion, said the DG talked to him and offered a food packet.
“He asked me about my illness and how I am feeling now. I am extremely happy that the DG has come to meet me. His gesture has refreshed me and I feel more encouraged and inspired,” he said.
“I feel extremely proud after the DG met me, talked for five minutes and inquired about my health. I never had such occasion in my 16-year service tenure,” said Bharat Chandra Sethi, a CRPF constable who is undergoing treatment at the hospital.