Forces adopt guerrilla tactics in biggest anti-Naxal operation

Launching the country's biggest ever anti-Naxal offensive, security forces today adopted a new strategy of guerrilla warfare in the dense forests of Orissa.

Backed by helicopters and sniffer dogs, over 1,000 policemen intensified their search for the Naxalites involved in the Nayagarh attack in which 14 policemen and one civilian were killed last Friday. The Centre today sent 500 CRPF men to join the battle.

"Instead of chasing the ultras in jungles, the force will now wait for the enemies to surface," said an officer.

The Naxalites, who were hiding in the Garsama forest after the Nayagarh mayhem, are reported to have escaped to new areas in small groups to dodge the security forces, who have been in their hot pursuit for the last four days.

Police refused to disclose the new forest areas where combing was on. "The operation has stared at several places simultaneously in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts", said DIG (Southern Range) RP Koche.