Maoists killed 75 people including 53 civilians while the security personnel eliminated only 12 ultras in Orissa during 2010. This was stated in the white paper released by state home department on Tuesday. Though 61 people were killed by Maoists in 2009, the number of killing increased last year.
While 28 civilians were killed by Maoists in 2009, the number of civilian casualties increased to 53 in 2010, the paper said, adding that 20 ultras were gunned down by security personnel in 2009. Many innocent people were being killed by the Maoists in the name of police informers.
"People opposing the Maoists activities were also victims," it said. In a bid to weaken the morale of security personnel, Maoists used to organise bandhs, road blockade and blow up culverts and telephone towers, it said, adding that while 10 Maoists had surrendered before the police in 2009, the number rose to 44 in 2010.
It further said that the number of districts hit by the red rebels increased to 19 by 2010, even as para-military forces were deployed in the entire southern Orissa.
As part of efforts to combat the ultras, the state government has taken several steps such as banning the Communist Party of India-Maoist, and its six frontal organisations, creation of a unified command to monitor anti-Maoist operations and setting up of new battalions among others.
