Odisha claims firm control over Maoist menace in state

Security personnel seized 29 guns, 87 explosive items, and a large number of firearms and other materials during raids on different Maoist camps in the state.

Once known to be the Maoist hotbed, the Swabhiman Anchal (erstwhile cut off) area in the Malkangiri district has been freed from Maoist clutches because of continuous operations by the security personnel and rapid development works in the region, said the paper.

Over 3000 militia and Maoist sympathisers have been brought to the mainstream in the region under Operation Ghar Wapsi. Similarly, the state government has also been emphasising mainstreaming the Maoists in other regions through a progressive surrender policy.

Despite the Opposition allegation over lawlessness in the state, the paper, released a day before the Budget discussion of the Home Department, said the overall law-and-order situation in the state remained peaceful.

During 2022, Odisha had registered 1.78 lakh criminal cases including 1379 murders, 3184 rapes, 626 dacoity, 2998 robbery, 5467 burglary, 14,893 thefts, and 11,663 motor vehicle accidents.

Of the 3184 rape cases reported, as many as 3135 cases were true while the police have filed a chargesheet in 2237 cases by end of the year. Similarly, as many as 1,301 of the 1379 murder cases are true and the police have filed a chargesheet in 640 cases.

There has been a slight dip in crime situation as the state had registered 3327 rape and 1394 murder cases in 2021.

As many as 1983 cases of cybercrime were reported in 2022 of which the police have filed a chargesheet in 272 cases. Odisha had also reported 70 cases of human trafficking last year.

According to the paper, of the 4859 dowry-related torture cases, a chargesheet has been filed in 3418 cases. Odisha had also reported 263 dowry-related death cases and 106 dowry-related suicide cases in 2022.