Influx of Maoists: Odisha seeks 2 more CRPF battalions

With influx of Maoist cadres into Odisha from neighbouring Chhattishgarh and Jharkhand, the police today sought two more CRPF battalions for border areas.

"We have a demand for additional two battalions of CRPF personnel. I have placed the demand before CRPF Special DG (central zone) Kuldeep Singh during a meeting here today," Odisha DGP K B Singh told reporters here.

Justifying the Odisha's demand for additional force deployment in the state's border, the DGP said Maoist cadre are sneaking into Odisha due to heavy deployment of central force in Chhattishgarh and Jharkhand.

"Therefore, we need more force to flush them out," Singh said.

All left wing extremism activities that took place in the state in the past two months were committed by ultras hailing from either Chhattishgarh or Jharkhand, he said.

To a question on Maoists killing innocent civilians branding them as police informers, the DGP said, "We are also thinking to provide security to some civilians who are under the Maoists' threat."

Though Odisha remained peaceful for about one year, Maoists have expedited their activities in some districts, he said.

"Our focus is now in Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada district," the DGP said.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)