Naxals have of late created two new divisions in Chhattisgarh along its borders with Orissa and Maharashtra apparently to retain consolidation of their base in Bastar region in the wake of increasing pressure on them by forces, intelligence sources said on Saturday.
Sources said Maoist leadership has “reorganised” organisational networks in Chhattisgarh areas bordering with Orissa and Maharashtra to make the borders with the neighbouring states “porous” to pave way for escape of Naxals in Bastar whenever security forces mounted pressure in their “traditional stronghold”.
The new Chhattisgarh-Orissa division has been created bringing under its control three committees — Gariabandh committee operating in eastern Chhattisgarh and Bargarh and Nuapara committees functioning in western Orissa. Dreaded Naxal leader Madhvi is tipped to head the newly created division. The rebels are reportedly desperate to give shape to their plan to open north coastal Andhra — south Orissa-eastern Chhattisgarh corridor — to ensure smooth movement of Naxals from Andhra Pradesh to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand via south and western Orissa.
“We have stepped up security in eastern Chhattis-garh bordering western Orissa by deploying two additional CRPF units and half-a-dozen Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) units to foil the Naxals’ plan to open the proposed Red corridor”, a senior police officer here said.
Similarly, Naxals have reportedly created another new division, Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra division, bringing Rajnandgaon committee active in west Chhattisgarh and Gadchhiroli committee operating in border areas of west Maharashtra under its jurisdiction to open up an escape route for Naxals in Bastar in western side during operations by forces in south Bastar region.