The Odisha police has decided to step up operations against the Maoists and bring in necessary changes in the strategy to deal with the Naxalites according to a top police official. This was stated by Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP) Mr.R P Sharma after reviewing operations with top police officials in Naxalism-hit Rayagada, where a District Voluntary Force personnel was killed in a landmine blast on April 9. The officials present at the meeting told that the police chief emphasized the importance of adhering to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) during anti-Maoist operations to prevent any injury or casualty,. While underlining the need to intensify anti-Maoist operations, Sharma also urged the insurgents to surrender and return to the social mainstream to lead a normal life. The DGP told that the Maoists who surrender will be rehabilitated according to the prevailing surrender policy. A cheque of Rs 18 lakh was handed over as ex-gratia to the father of the deceased DVF jawan, Sanjaya Majhi. The jawan was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the Maoists went off near Sakata village under the jurisdiction of Muniguda police station late on April 9 night, the police told. Terming the attack as “an act of cowardice”, a senior police official told that such assaults would not be able to demoralise the security personnel.