Odisha: CM Naveen Patnaik asks for 2 more CAPF battalions, fears influx of Maoists

Bhubaneswar: Noting that left wing extremism situation continues to remain challenging in three bordering districts of Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday sought two additional battalions of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to counter the red rebels. “In this scenario, two additional battalions of CAPFs are urgently required for supplementing the deployment in Nuapada and Malkangiri district across Chhattishgarh borders and for conducting meaningful anti-Maoist operation in the new areas of Maoist activity,” Patnaik wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, officials said. [caption id=“attachment_2076165” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. PTI[/caption] Stating that the CPI(Maoist) still maintains resilience and poses a clear threat to the security forces in the area bordering Andhra Pradesh, Chhattishgarh and Jharkhand, Patnaik pointed out that the intelligence inputs indicate that Maoists have been trying to consolidate their position in Western Odisha, particularly in Nuapada district, for quite some time. “A large number of cadre have moved in from Chhattishgarh and Jharkhand to the district (Nuapada). It is learnt that additional battalions of CAPFs are likely to be inducted in Chhattishgarh state soon,” Patnaik said adding that this is likely to cause further cross border movement if armed Maoist groups enter into Odisha from Chhattishgarh side. In this event, Patnaik said deployment of more security forces will become absolutely necessary in Odisha- Chhattishgarh border to counter cross border movement of Maoists into Odisha side. The present deployment of forces in Nuapada district is inadequate to dominate the area, conduct meaningful operation and restrict movement of Maoists, he pointed out. This apart, the chief minister said in the letter that there is a need to augment the presence of security forces in Malkangiri district to effectively dominate the Maoist stronghold and to conduct sustained anti-Maoist operations. “I would, therefore, request you to kindly look into the matter and consider providing two additional battalions of CAPFs to contain the spread of Maoists in the areas. I look forward to an early and favourable response in the matter,” Patnaik said while concluding the letter. PTI