By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: While attending a high level review meeting on Left Wing Extremism, Odisha Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, urged the Central government to station 12 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for two years to thwart infiltration and decisively eliminate Naxalite presence in the state.
CM Majhi stated that the state has formed three battalions of ex-servicemen within the Odisha Special Striking Force (OSSF) to combat the Naxalite threat, and is promptly filling other police vacancies.
Additionally, CM Majhi requested the allocation of a dedicated helicopter for the state, highlighting that continuous helicopter service is vital for the mobility of security personnel, upkeep of advanced posts, and emergency responses in the LWE zone.
The Odisha Chief Minister emphasised the strategic importance of the Kandhamal-Boudh-Kalahandi axis, noting that despite continuous and forceful operations, the Naxals have maintained a strong presence in some locales.
He stated that all relevant organisations, including state forces, CAPF, the Intelligence Bureau, the State Intelligence Unit, and the Special Task Force (STF), are collaborating closely to eradicate the Maoist presence in this area.
Though 10 districts have been identified as LWE affected, the Maoists are very active in the Nuapada, Kandhamal, and Boudh, Malkangiri & Rayagada districts, Shri Majhi said.
To counter them, Odisha Government has raised 3 Battalions of ex-servicemen OSSF (Odisha Special Striking Force). Vacancies in other ranks of Police are also being filled up, in a time-bound manner.
However, till the recruited forces are deployed on the ground, there is a pressing need, for effective area domination, to check infiltration from Chhattisgarh, and to augment intelligence-based operations.
In the current scenario, he requested Shri Shah not to withdraw the Central Forces, till the induction process is complete. Also, he sought at least 12 Companies of CAPF for a period of 2 years, to be deployed in LWE affected areas, to prevent infiltration, and eradicate LWE from Odisha, in a time bound manner.
