Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday demanded deployment of two additional CRPF battalions and a dedicated MI-17 military helicopter to contain fresh build-up by Maoists in the districts bordering Chhattisgarh.
Heavy deployment of security forces in neighbouring Chhattisgarh was driving Maoists to his state and two additional battalions should be provided by the Centre to match the deployment in Nuapada, Baragarh and Balangir districts, Naveen said in his address to the conference of Chief Ministers in New Delhi.
“I would like to reiterate that Left Wing Extremism poses a very serious and damaging threat to the national security. The menace has to be crushed firmly to uphold the dignity of democracy and rule of law. My government is seriously working to deal with the problem and I hope that a combined effort will help in this endeavour,” he said and condemned the recent gruesome attack on a convoy of the Congress Party in Chhattisgarh by the Maoists.
The Chief Minister told the conference that there has been an overall improvement in the situation in Odisha in 2012 and 2013 in terms of Maoist violence.
The situation, however, remains difficult in parts of Malkangiri and Koraput districts and challenging in Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh districts.
He further asserted that installation of mobile towers and DSPTs in the Naxal affected areas may be expedited by the BSNL, allocation under Integrated Action Plan be restored to level of 2012-13 and the districts of Dhenkanal and Bargarh should be included under IAP.
On other internal security issues, the Chief Minister demanded enhanced provision for construction of marine police stations, adequate and timely release of funds for modernisation of police force and extension of the Mega City Police Scheme to cover the city of Bhubaneswar.
The Chief Minister requested the Home Ministry to expedite the Odisha Protection of Interest of Depositors Bill which is awaiting Presidential assent, which should be expedited by the Home
Ministry. “This would provide the necessary legal framework to the economic offence wing of State, which has taken up investigation of a number of financial frauds relating to money circulation schemes,” he said.
The situation demands additional resources to increase the strength of the civil police. He sought Central government support for raising the civil police numbers by meeting their full cost for the first five years.
The Chief Minister, who had earlier opposed the proposed NCTC, said though the Central government made some changes suggested by the State in the proposed NCTC, all the issues have still not been addressed.
“I would like to reiterate that the federal rights of the states should be respected and protected at all cost. No direct or indirect interference in the autonomy of the states shall be tolerated”, he said.
