Police recruitment drive in Orissa to tackle Maoist menace

Koratput (Orissa), May 7 (ANI): The local tribals turned up in large numbers for the recruitment process for the posts of Senior Police Officers (SPOs) in Orissa's Koratput District.

This recruitment has proved to be a fruitful exercise and is of great significance, as Koratput is one of the worst regions affected by the Maoist violence.

The credit for this initiative goes to the state government, which has given an opportunity to the tribal youth, who have studied upto the higher secondary school level to chalk out a progressive career and not be lured by the destructive influence of Maoists.

This recruitment drive commenced on May 3. The Orissa Police has planned to recruit around 300 SPOs.

However, the response had been so much encouraging that around 1200 aspirants, all from tribal communities, applied for the post and took part in the competitive entrance tests, which covered an individual's physical and intellectual caliber.

One of the applicants was all praise for this recruitment drive and even mentioned that majority of the youth have come forth despite the threats posed by the Maoists active in the area.

"We are educated, but unemployed and we have no jobs. Even we are deprived of lands. In our village, we don't have land to cultivate. After we got to know about the Senior Police Officer (SPO) posts and that it requires VIII standard as basic academic qualification, we applied for it," said Apurb Muduli, an aspirant for the post of SPO.

"It will provide us an opportunity to earn our livings and to fight against the Naxals and to protect the country. Despite the warning by certain Maoists asking us not to join the police force, we don't fear them," he added.

The police authorities said this recruitment drive has opened up avenues for the otherwise isolated youth of the region, particularly the tribals, to be a part of the mainstream of the society rather than being influenced by Maoists ideology.

Koraput's Assistant Superintendent of Police Satyendra Kumar noted that the response has been overwhelming and these are the signs that the tribal youth are determined to counter the ultras.

"So far, the response has been quite good because this is the second time the recruitment process is being conducted in the district," said Satyendra Kumar.

"The first lot of SPOs, who have joined this process, this system, they have given the confidence for more and more tribal youth to respond positively for this recruitment process," he added.

Similar recruitment drives are planned to be held in other districts of Orissa in due course of time with the hopes that these will deter the youth from falling prey to the Maoist ideology. (ANI)