Three more battalions for anti-Naxal operations in Orissa

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Published: Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010, 18:45 IST
Place: Bhubaneswar | Agency: PTI

Three more battalions of security forces, comprising nearly 3,000 personnel, will be deployed in Orissa for anti-Maoist operations in addition to the eight already pressed into service, a senior official said today.

A decision to this effect was taken today during a meeting of state government and Union home ministry officials to review the anti-Naxal operations.

"We held a discussion on operations and logistic support provided to the central para-military force deployed in Maoist-hit districts of Orissa," said a senior home department official who attended the meeting held at the office of the Special Intelligence Wing (SIW) here.

He said the state government told the meeting that it required a dedicated helicopter the support the operations.

Official sources said there was detailed review of the Maoist situation in the state including worst-hit Malkangiri and other southern districts.

The eight battalions of central para-military forces already in the state comprised five battalions of BSF and three of the CRPF, the sources said.

Three more battalions would be despatched to the state, they said.

The five battalions of BSF were deployed in Malkangiri district bordering Chhattishgarh while the CRPF was present in other southern districts.

The closed door meeting was attended by additional secretary (Naxal Management) in Union home ministry DRS Chaudhary, MHA's joint secretary (Naxal Management) Kashmir Singh, CRPF's special DG Subas Joshi, DGP Manmohan Praharaj and senior officials engaged in the anti-Maoist operations.

The CRPF special DG had met chief minister Naveen Patnaik here last evening, the sources said.