New Delhi: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday urged the Centre to equip the state with two additional battalions of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to check Naxalism in the state.
During a review meeting of states affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and attended by 10 Naxalism-affected states, Patnaik said, “Due to gross asymmetric deployment of CAPF in areas borderng Chhattisgarh, influx of CPI (Maoists) cadres into my state has escalated. I urge the Centre to provide two additional battalions of CAPFs to Orissa to enable us to undertake effective measures to counter extremism.”
The BJD supremo, meanwhile, urged the Home Ministry to include newly affected districts under the security related expenditure scheme. Patnaik said, “Kalahandi district has been witnessing an increase in Maoist activities in recent times. This district may be included in the list of ‘‘worst affected districts’’. I reiterate my request to de-notify three districts –Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Ganjam – and incorporate Angul, Boudh and Sonepur districts under the security related expenditure.”
The CM, meanwhile, recounted the steps taken by his government such as surrender policy and confidence-building measures which helped in the surrender of 203 Naxals in the past three years.
Patnaik also urged the Centre to improve transportation in Orissa to take on Naxal menace. He said, “Jeypore Airstrip set up by Orissa government may be developed into an airport for passenger and anti-LWE logistic purposes. The railway ministry may also provide adequate funds and completion of Malkangiri-Jeypore and Jeypore-Nabarangpur railway lines in a time bound manner. This will help better interaction of people with regard to socio-economic activities.”
Among other state-specific demands that the CM made before Rajnath Singh comprise tackling Naxalism, replacing mobile towers in LWE areas with regular trans-receiver units with higher bandwidth, early release of central share for construction of Gurupriya bridge and a halt to repetitive demand for reimbursement from state government towards deployment of CAPF in LWE areas in orissa.
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