The Odisha government on Monday urged the Centre not to withdraw central forces from the state but send at least 12 more companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and provide a dedicated helicopter to intensify Maoist operations in the state.
Odisha is in focus following a large-scale operation being launched in Chhattisgarh to flush out the Maoists. There has been an apprehension that the Maoists would enter Odisha in search of a safe hide-out.
The state government has also resolved to end the Maoist menace by March 2026, the goal set by the government of India.
Attending the meeting of the LWE (Left wing Extremism)-hit states chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, “With large
scale induction of security Forces, anti-naxal operations are picking up, in Chhattisgarh. In such a situation,
there is reasonable apprehension of possible movement of LWE cadres, from Chhattisgarh to Odisha, and their possible relocation inside
Odisha.”
Majhi said Odisha has already raised three battalions of ex-servicemen in 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,” he said.
Majhi said: “In the current scenario, I request you, not to withdraw the central forces, till the induction process is complete. Also, may I request you, to send at least 12 Coys of CAPF for 2 years, to be deployed in LWE-affected areas, to prevent infiltration, and eradicate LWE from Odisha, in a time-bound manner.”
Citing the need for a dedicated helicopter to be used for the anti-naxal movement, chief minister Majhi said: “Uninterrupted Helicopter service, is a critical requirement, for the security forces and movement of troops, maintenance of forward posts, and to respond to the exigencies, in the LWE theatre of conflict.”
Majhi informed the Centre how steps are being taken for the infrastructure development in the Naxal-hit areas and the overall development of the people.
“A new yojana called Gramodaya is being launched converging more than 40 schemes to cover all the villages situated in the LWE-affected areas with basic infrastructure and services. This will help in improving the social economic condition of the people residing and such areas,” Majhi said.
The chief minister maintained that due to the consistent efforts undertaken by the state government, the Maoists’ activities are confined to sporadic pockets of 10 districts in the state.
“However, Kandhamal-Boudh-Kalahandi axis is in our focus now. Despite sustained and aggressive operations, Naxals have shown considerable resilience, and they continue to hold ground, in this particular area,” Majhi said.
He added that all concerned agencies, including State Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, Intelligence Bureau, State Intelligence Unit and Special Task Force (STF), are operating in seamless synergy to flush out Maoists from this axis.
