After 27 Maoist-related violent occurrences during the year, the Odisha government asserted on Monday that it has complete control over the left-wing extremism (LWE) situation in the state in 2022.
Seven Maoist cadres were killed by security personnel after a gunfight, while 12 Maoists were detained and three more surrendered, according to a White Paper published by the Odisha Home Department on the state of general law and order. According to the newspaper, maoist violence claimed the lives of eight civilians and three members of the security forces in 2014.
During operations on various Maoist camps throughout the state, security personnel recovered 29 firearms, 87 explosives, and numerous other weapons and materials.
The Swabhiman Anchal (formerly cut off) area in the Malkangiri district, once known as the Maoist hotbed, has been liberated from Maoist control as a result of ongoing security personnel operations and swift development projects in the area, according to the daily.
Through Operation Ghar Wapsi, over 3000 militia members and Maoist sympathisers have been integrated into the community. In a similar vein, the state government has placed a strong emphasis on mainstreaming the Maoists in other areas through a programme of gradual capitulation.
The paper, which was published a day before the Home Department’s Budget discussion, stated that general law-and-order conditions in the state were tranquil despite the Opposition’s allegations of anarchy.
Odisha had 1.78 lakh criminal cases filed during 2022, including 1379 murders, 3184 rapes, 626 dacoities, 2998 robberies, 5467 break-ins, 14,893 thefts, and 11,663 car accidents.
As many as 3135 of the 3184 reported rape instances were real, and by the end of the year, the police had laid charges in 2237 of those cases. In a similar vein, 640 of the 1379 murder cases—or up to 1,301 of them—have been charged by the police.
Given that the state had 3327 rape and 1394 murder cases in 2021, there has been a modest decline in crime.
A chargesheet has been filed by the police in 272 of the 1983 cybercrime instances that were reported in 2022, according to statistics. Moreover, 70 incidences of human trafficking were reported from Odisha last year.
A chargesheet has been filed in 3418 of the 4859 dowry-related torture instances, the publication claims. Moreover, 263 dowry-related deaths and 106 dowry-related suicides were reported in Odisha in 2022.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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