Mumbai, May 25 (IANS) In the wake of heightened Maoist activities in the state and surrounding areas, the Maharashtra government has upgraded the rank of anti-Naxal operations (ANO) chief to better counter the rebel threat, an official said here.

The upgradation - from the existing deputy inspector general of police to additional director general of police - was announced late Monday during a major reshuffle of 41 top Indian Police Service (IPS) posts across the state.

Besides, the official explained, the post of additional director general of police (special operations) was also revived and would serve as the state-level co-ordinator of the ANO, the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) and the state intelligence department (SID).

"In view of the increased Maoist activity in Gadchiroli district of Vidarbha region in eastern Maharashtra with many casualties among the security personnel, the changes are expected to help better combat the Maoist menace and control it within the region," the official from the home department said.

When Pankaj Gupta was heading the ANO, he held the rank of additional DGP, but following his transfer to the state police headquarters, it was again downgraded to the rank of DIG.

Police Commissioner of Nashik V.D. Mishra has been made the new ANO chief, S.P. Gupta, with a long stint in the SID, will be the new Addl. DGP (special operations).

Mishra had handled the ANO when he was the inspector general of police of Nagpur Range.

The present DIG (ANO) Ravindra Kadam, who has earlier served the ATS and Special Action Group, has been shifted to Nagpur city as additional commissioner (crime).