Orissa Police set up a medical camp in Gajapati

Gajapati (Orissa), Jan 23 (ANI): Orissa Police set up a medical camp and distributed free medicines to tribals here on Sunday as a confidence-building measure.

In an attempt to gain the trust of tribals, and to take their help in combating Maoists in the region, the police tried to involve locals in community policing to improve the relationship between them.

A medical camp and by a volleyball match were organised as part of this process.

"As you know this is a very extremist affected area and development is not reaching properly to people so this is an initiative from our Orissa police. Community policing camp is organised in different interior pockets to make the people, to make the police and people friendly," said Sarthak Sarangi, Superintendent of Police, Gajapati.

"And by interacting with them we are able to know what are their difficulties and how they are leading their life and what all things can be done to improve their livelihood standard. And also reaching this interior pockets also increases our intelligence input and base and we develop a rapport with people," he added.

Hundreds of locals and children visited the medical camp where they were given free treatment, medicines and stationery as gifts.

The locals here appreciated the initiative taken by the police.

"We used to face a lot of problems. Health problems were one among them, as doctors would not visit the area. We even face water problems. Roads are not good enough and there are problems related to communication," said Alma, a tribal woman.

"Although, earlier, we had no medical facilities but now we receive them after the doctors have started arriving," she added. (ANI)