Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today demanded a chopper and 12 companies of central armed police force (CAPF) from the Government of India to root out Maoists from the State.
The Chief Minister raised this demand during a Maoist related review meeting held under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi today.
Along with Shri Majhi, Chief Ministers of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states attended the meeting held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Speaking to media persons after attending the meeting in the national capital, Shri Majhi said Maoists organisations in Odisha have become weak. However, due to massive anti-Maoists operations in Chhattisgarh, there is a possibility that the Naxals from the neighbouring state may enter Odisha, he said.
“Once a chopper and 12 companies of CAPF will be deployed in Odisha, we will not face any issue in conducting anti-Maoist operations in the State,” he said.
Though 10 districts have been identified as LWE affected, the Maoists are very active in the Nuapada, Kandhamal, and Boudh, Malkangiri & Rayagada districts, Shri Majhi said.
He further informed that illegal ganja cultivation and its trade is playing a major role as they get financial support from it.
During the meeting, he thanked the Union Home Minister for providing the leadership and support, to effectively neutralize the threat of Left Wing Extremism, that had crippled some of the most vulnerable pockets, spanning across the country, and continues to be a grave internal security challenge.
The State of Odisha has been at the receiving end of this menace, for a long period. With concerted efforts, and in coordination with the Central and State Security Forces, the LWE activities have been restricted, to a significant extent, and the incidents of violence have been minimized, he pointed out.
“Our police personnel together with the central forces, undertake intelligence-based counter-insurgency campaigns. In addition to well calibrated security responses, our government’s focused developmental interventions, and people-centric policies, also brings about changes, in the situation, in most of the affected areas,” the CM said.
The security personnel have fought back, to free more areas from the influence of CPI (Maoist) which is now confined, to sporadic pockets of ten districts in the State, he said, adding, “We also aim to choke down, their mass support base, and discourage recruitment of local cadres to their outfit.”
The Odisha government is also trying to integrate more areas into the socio-economic-political mainstream, by facilitating remarkable progress in every sphere, he added.
However, Shri Majhi said, the Kandhamal- Boudh- Kalahandi axis is in the State’s focus now. Despite sustained and aggressive operations, Naxals have shown considerable resilience, and they continue to hold ground in this particular area.
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 the axis, he said.
The Chief Minister informed the Centre that developmental machinery has also been energized, in this axis. This is being taken further, by taking the community into confidence, through developmental activities.
In some difficult and inaccessible pockets in Kandhamal district, medicines are being distributed, through drones. Super specialist doctors are deputed to different areas, for providing improved healthcare to the people.
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, he said.
To counter them, Odisha Government has raised 3 Battalions of ex-servicemen 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.
In the current scenario, he requested Shri Shah not to withdraw the Central Forces, till the induction process is complete. Also, he sought at least 12 Companies of CAPF for a period of 2 years, to be deployed in LWE affected areas, to prevent infiltration, and eradicate LWE from Odisha, in a time bound manner.
Stating that uninterrupted helicopter service is a critical requirement to fight with the LWE forces, the CM demanded for a dedicated helicopter for the State.
The State has also submitted a list of 127 vital roads in LWE affected areas to the Government of India in July 2024. These road projects will considerably augment connectivity in these areas, and will also facilitate effective operations by Security Forces against the Naxals. This may please be considered, at the earliest, he told Shah.
Besides the above, benefits under Dharitri Aabba Janjatiya Utkarsha Gram Abhiyan , will also be extended in the LWE affected areas, he requested.
“We are well aware, and appreciate the deadline given by Home Minister Shah Ji, to end this menace, by March 2026,” he added.