2,000 BSF personnel sent to Odisha

Two contingents of 1,000 newly trained personnel each, have been despatched by the Centre for anti-Maoists operations in Odisha, taking the total number of central paramilitary troops for the purpose across the country to one lakh.

The personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) have been sent to Odisha to be deployed in Nabrangpur, Koraput and Rayagada districts and they will undertake anti-Maoist operations in coordination with the state police, a senior paramilitary official said.

One lakh personnel

With the induction of these two battalions of security forces, the total number of personnel committed by the central government for anti-Maoist operations has risen to one lakh, he said. Each battalion comprises around 1,000 soldiers.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deployed about 82 battalions, BSF 11 battalions (five in Chhattisgarh and six in Odisha) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) six battalions for such operations in various Naxal violence-hit states of the country.

Almost another five battalions (5,000 personnel) of these central forces are waiting in the wings or are undergoing training and they will be also sent soon for operations to deal with the Maoists, the official said.

The Union Home Ministry, under whom the operational and administrative control of these forces are vested, is also chalking plans to provide more helicopters for the supporting the troops on the ground in these states.