Orissa CM demands more CRPF battalions

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday demanded deployment of two more battalions of CRPF in order to boost efforts to "contain and prevent" Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the state.

"We need more Central para-military force for deployment in Orissa-Chhattishgarh border," Patnaik said after a meeting with Union Home minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi which was also attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, a state government release said in Bhubaneshwar.

Patnaik said a planned operation could help in bringing down LWE violence. Orissa presently have 12 battalions of Central para military forces comprising five battalions of BSF and seven battalions of CPRF in the state.

Stressing on the need for continuous improvement of coordination among the states affected by LWE, Patnaik called upon Chidambaram to substantially increase financial assistance for improving security related infrastructure for the state police force, the release said.

Patnaik's other demands include covering four more districts - Nuapada, Bargarh, Bolangir and Kalahandi – under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, provision of a dedicated helicopter for the state police and deputation of officers from para-military force to work with Orissa police on naxal operation, it added.