Fears of Maoist influx to Odisha as neighbouring Chhattisgarh steps up ops

The Odisha CM’s connection came days aft 31 Maoists were gunned down by information forces successful Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmad.

Majhi, who attended a gathering of Maoist-affected states’ main ministers with Union Home Minister Amit Shah successful New Delhi successful the aftermath of the Abujhmad encounter, has sought 12 companies – determination are astir 100 unit successful 1 institution – of CAPF for a play of 2 years arsenic good arsenic a dedicated chopper.

While LWE has been restricted to a fewer pockets successful Odisha and incidents of unit person been minimised, officials said activities related to LWE successful the Kandhamal-Boudh-Kalahandi axis are concerning.

“Despite sustained and assertive operations, Naxals person shown sizeable resilience, and they proceed to clasp crushed successful this peculiar area,” an authoritative said.

With the volition of redeploying them successful different states, the Centre precocious withdrew astatine slightest 27 of the 96 companies of CAPF troops that were deployed successful Odisha. The Centre is thought to beryllium considering removing adjacent much troops arsenic the Maoist contented has been restricted to conscionable a fewer pockets successful the state.

As suggested by the Centre, the Odisha authorities has besides raised 3 battalions of the Odisha Special Striking Force (OSSF), comprising ex-servicemen, to prosecute successful anti-Maoist operation. The authorities has plans to rise 3 much battalions.

“Until the recruited forces are deployed connected the ground, determination is simply a pressing request for effectual country domination, to cheque infiltration from Chhattisgarh, and to augment intelligence-based operations. I petition you (Union Home Minister), not to retreat the cardinal forces till the induction process is complete,” said the Chief Minister.

Odisha besides requested that astatine slightest 12 companies of CAPF beryllium sent for a play of 2 years, to beryllium deployed successful LWE-affected areas to forestall infiltration and eradicate Maoists successful a clip bound manner.

Emphasising connected the improvement of the LWE-affected areas successful Odisha, the authorities authorities has planned to motorboat a caller strategy called Gramodaya, converging implicit 40 schemes to screen each the villages situated successful specified areas and supply them with basal infrastructure and services.