Greyhounds back on Naxal trail

Besides the June 29 attack, the Maoists had also gained confidence by killing 16 Orissa cops on July 16.

Vishakapatnam District Superintendent of Police Akun Sabharwal said Greyhounds are being sent to places from where they are getting information about Maoist hideouts and movement.

“At the moment, we are wary of Kalimela area as the Maoists blasted a police vehicle there last week. At least three Orissa policemen, who were part of the Greyhound operation in Balimella before the June 29 attack, were killed in the landmine blast. Inspector Sharad Chandra Mishra, who died when his vehicle was blown up on July 16, too, had participated in several greyhound operations. Operations are now being launched in areas that have become Maoist infested. We have to regain lost ground,” Sabarwal said.

Sources said since Maoists wield considerable influence on tribals, information about their hideouts and movement is not readily available in the region. “After a fortnight of continuous combing, the tribals are, however, softening and giving us tip-offs. Greyhounds are now being deployed on the basis of the tip-offs,” the officer said.

Sabarwal said, despite the attacks, the morale of the forces on both sides is still high. “The Greyhounds personnel are eager to go back to the area where they lost 34 comrades. Last week, several Orissa policemen who participated in joint operations also died. They are therefore eager to launch operations to flush out the Maoists,” an officer at the Greyhounds Headquarters in Hyderabad said.