Eliminating a senior Maoist leader like Azad cannot be construed as victory but what the police should do is to make the right move and get closer to the Girijans before the Maoist party puts another leader in the place of Azad, Superintendent of Police Rahul Dev Sharma said on Monday.
“They (Maoists) take some time to replace a senior leader like Azad and that leader needs time to get support from the Girijans. But this time should be utilised by the police and we also bring support from other government departments to the Girijans,” Mr. Sharma said.
On the situation in the Visakha Agency, in which the Maoists have some major presence, he said the increased presence of police and the people-friendly policing was yielding good result.
A bus service to Rudakota has become a reality and the work on road was being pursued, he said.
“We want to have village-wise plans to provide the basic amenities required. We do what we can and also take the help of the Revenue Department. We are talking to villagers to wean them away from Maoists and trying to motivate them, showing them the city and industries to let them have a look at the good face of life,” he said.
The SP said there was Maoist presence and their movements were being observed in border and cut-off areas with Odisha and in Galikonda.
On ganja cultivation and transport, which is going on on a large scale in the Agency, Mr. Sharma said the villagers involved in the activity have to be counselled and they should be shown an alternate crop since ganja had been fetching them a huge money.
