By Our Correspondent
KORAPUT/MALKANGIRI/BHUBANESWAR: Border Security Force is a major Central Armed Police Force of India and it is India’s first line of defence. BSF was deployed in Odisha in October, 2010 in Koraput and Malkangiri districts as both the districts were highly Naxal affected. Subsequently in the year 2013, BSF was also deployed in Nabarangpur and Rayagada districts.
Before the year 2010, it was very difficult on part of civil administration to move into interior areas. Even Police with limited resources could not access remote areas. Vehicles did not ply during night hours, shops would shut down before sunset and business totally paralyzed. It was very difficult to implement central and state Govt schemes on ground.
It was BSF that aided state Police and civil administration in containing Maoist activities in Koraput and Malkangiri districts. The highlights of remarkable achievements of BSF are as under:-
The Swabhimaan Anchal which used to be a liberated zone of Maoists has been sanitized.
Gurupriya bridge was commissioned in the year 2018 under security cover of BSF which has connected approx 30 thousand inhabitants of 151 villages of 09 GPs of Swabhimaan Anchal to mainland and changed the complete dynamics of development in the region. This has become new identity of Malkangiri district.
Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon areas of Koraput district which used to be strongholds of Maoists have been cleared.BSF has provided much needed conducive atmosphere to civil administration to carry out various developmental activities in Koraput and Malkangiri districts.Agricultural lands used for forceful Ganja cultivation are now being used for cultivating other crops.Vehicles including Govt transports are plying uninterrupted day and night in both the districts.Business and agricultural activities have returned to normalcy.
Violence activities of Maoists have been contained to large extend.
Construction of Motu Bridge (2019) has opened new avenues of connectivity with Telengana and Andhra Pradesh.Medical care for the people of Malkangiri has touched new heights with the establishment of a new district HQ Hospital in Malkangiri in the year 2018.
Last year, a 50 bedded health care centre has come up at Badapada in Swabhimaan Anchal with ICU facilities.New Mobile towers are now installed in interior areas with support and cooperation of BSF. Establishment of new COB (Company Operational Base) – During the year 2022, BSF established two new COBs. One COB at Jantri in Malkangiri district close to Andhra Pradesh – Odisha border in the erstwhile cut-off area in the month of March 2022 to mark an end of the road for the Maoist in Swabhimaan Anchal. The second COB Saheed Sunil Kumar Behra established at Kumbhikhari, Koraput in highly Maoist infested area near Odisha- Chhattisgarh border. BSF is operating actively in the area and successfully countering the Maoist strategy for the safety and security of public in the interior pockets and remote localities.
Ghar Wapsi Programme – After establishment of New COB at Jantri in Swabhiman Anchal of district Malkangiri, BSF and Police had made efforts for return of Maoist sympathizers and supporters in mainstream. In the “GHAR WAPSI” programme more than 1000 Maoists sympathizers/ supporters took oath against Maoism and in a dare devil act they also burnt effigies of Maoists. Not only villagers of Odisha but also from Andhra Pradesh joined the programme.
Conducting of Panchayat Election- During the month of Feb 2022, BSF succeeded in conducting peaceful Panchayat Elections in the vulnerable Naxal affected areas. The election concluded peacefully and incident free amid heavy security cover of BSF. Many of the villagers cast their votes for the first time.
Tribal Youth Exchange Programme- It is Govt sponsored programme to give an opportunity to Tribal youth to gain experience, knowledge and skill by visiting other parts of India. Last year (2021-22), we had included 175 youths in the programme. This year (2022-23) we have facilitated 202 youths to Ahmedabad (Guj), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Bhopal (MP), Puducherry, Alipur (Delhi), Chandigarh (Punjab) and Kochin (Kerala) in seven phases and more to come.
Admission of Tribal Youth in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS)
During the year 2022, BSF motivated young students and convinced their parents in the district of Malkangiri for better study in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar. With the efforts of BSF, 37 girls and 08 boys (Total 45 students) were selected and got admission in KISS.
Medical Camps – BSF regularly organized Medical camps in remote areas wherein ailing villagers were provided health care facilities and medicines. The basic aim of organizing such medical camps is to bring Medicare to the doorsteps of deprived population of the remote pockets who have no access to basic healthcare services.
Boat Ambulance Services- On 26th Jan 2022, on the occasion of Republic Day, BSF had launched boat ambulance service in Swabhimaan Anchal in Malkangiri district of Odisha state. The Boat ambulance service cover the whole Swabhimaan Anchal area for shifting of patients to nearby hospital and to provide better healthcare facilities in absence of proper road network.
Civic Action/Outreach & Awareness Programme- Civic Action Programme (CAP) is one major outreach initiative being conducted every year by BSF deployed in the Maoist affected districts. This year more than 150 Civic Action Programme (CAP) have been conducted in remote villages of Malkangiri and Koraput districts to reform the lives of the people and to create a sense of security among the local population.
During the thirteen years of deployment in Odisha, BSF has not only sanitized the Maoist affected districts but also made a remarkable achievement in terms of killing, arrest and surrender of Maoists, seizure of arms, ammunition, IEDs, explosive materials, Communication equipments, contraband items and other misc items.
The Force has paid a heavy price to bring normalcy in the worst Maoists hit districts of Odisha. A number of troops have been injured and 14 gallant BSF personnel including officers have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty while dealing with LWE.
BSF plays very important role along with Police and State Administration, thereby expediting the ongoing development projects in Naxal affected areas. BSF is performing round the clock despite harsh & inhospitable terrain and shown its valour at every step by fulfilling every responsibility during natural calamities, Naxal problem, Election duty, Law and order duty etc. whatsoever task assigned by the Government.
Most importantly, we have always been able to win confidence and support of local populace wherever we were deployed. Even COVID-19 pandemic could not deter our sprit in achieving our objective. Winning ‘heart and mind’ of local people has always remained our priority.
