UAV in Saranda forest to track Maoist movement

Rourkela: Aware of the regrouping of the Maoists in the Saranda forest every winter, the security personnel this time have decided to take the help of Netra, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to track the movements of the red rebels.

Netra would fly above the trees and take pictures of the camps of the ultras on the ground. The remote controlled device operated through satellite can also take accurate pictures of arms being used by the rebels, said a police officer engaged in anti-Maoist operation in the region.

Saranda forest, the second largest Sal forest in Asia, bordering Jharkhand, is considered as a safe haven for the Maoists.

The ultras hold meetings and prepare strategy for their next operations in the forest every year, the officer said.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel in association with the district police are engaged in anti-Maoist operation which coincides with the ‘Martyrs Week’ celebration of the Maoists.

Every year, Maoists observe ‘martyrs week’ from November 21.

“In fact, this anti-Maoist operation is not a coincidence. It is a strategy which we have adopted since last year to counter the Maoists in their own backyard”, the officer stressed.