The meeting of the Eastern Regional Police Coordination Committee (ERPCC) scheduled on Tuesday is set to discuss some of the outstanding issues related to anti-naxal operation, cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, internal security matters amongother.

The DGP of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Chhatisgarh are scheduled to attend the meeting. The DGP of Odisha Police Abhay is set to chair the meeting.

“The meeting will be held through virtual mode and this is set to start from 3.30 PM onward. This is an important meeting that annually takes place. Such regional committees of police of different states are formed by the union ministry of Home & Affairs for the purpose of better coordination. The agenda of the meeting can’t be disclosed,” an official of Jharkhand Police said.

The meeting will be crucial in the sense that overall policing and anti-naxal operations were badly affected due to the prevailing condition of Covid 19 across the country.

Odisha DGP who shot a letter to DGP of four states said that the respective state should also ensure representation of officials in the meeting who are in-charge of anti-naxal operation, crime investigation and intelligence.

All these five states are badly affected by left-wing extremism and the meeting will be important to prepare a full proof plan of anti-naxal operation.  

Officials of other central enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies besides central security forces are also set to participate in the meeting.  Notably, the naxal activities in Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh are on rise. The activities of rebels on the bordering areas of Jharkhand-Odisha and Jharkhand-Chhatisgarh have risen whereas the Budha Pahad mountain range in Jharkhand is still indomitable for the security forces.         

Other than anti-naxal operation, the issue of intelligence sharing, counter jihadi activities, cooperation in interstate crime, cooperation in training and capacity building will be discussed. The meeting will review the actions taken on the report and recommendation of the previous meeting of the committee.