Maoists are regrouping and consolidating their position in western part of Odisha, particularly in Nuapada district.
The ultras have started moving from neighbouring states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh.
“Intelligence inputs indicate that the Maoists have been trying to consolidate their position in western Odisha, particularly in Nuapada district for quite sometime. A large number of cadres have moved in from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to the district,” the letter circulated to the media here said, adding that in the current scenario of left wing extremism in Odisha, the situation remains challenging not only in Nuapada but also in districts like Koraput and Malkangiri.
There is a possibility of further migration of armed Maoists into Odisha particularly from Chhattisgarh following the action by central forces in the neighbouring state. “It is learnt that additional battalions of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are likely to be inducted in Chhattisgarh soon. This is expected to increase further the cross border movement of the Maoists into Odisha from Chhattisgarh side”, the letter said.
Patnaik also said the deployment of more security forces will become absolutely necessary on Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. He has asked the home minister to send two more CAPF battalions for deployment in Nuapada and Malkangiri districts.
“The present deployment of forces in Nuapada district is inadequate to dominate the area, conduct meaningful operations and restrict the movement of Maoists.
Similarly, there is a need to augment the presence of security forces in Malkangiri district to effectively dominate Maoist strongholds and conduct sustained anti-Maoist operations. I would therefore request you to kindly look into the matter and consider providing two additional CAPF battalions to contain the spread of the Maoists in these areas,” Patnaik who also heads the home department in the state told his central counterpart.
