New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: With Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirming the government’s resolve to root out Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) menace by 2026, Odisha on Monday sought 12 companies of central forces along with a helicopter to intensify anti-naxal operations.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who attended a crucial meeting of LWE-hit states chaired by Amit Shah in New Delhi, said the Odisha government requested the Centre to provide 12 companies of force and one helicopter to galvanise the fight against Maoists.
The state has also sought adequate assistance from the Centre in undertaking developmental works including construction of roads. Assistance was also sought for strengthening mobile connectivity, and banking services in interior areas of the state.
The Centre assured the state that necessary infrastructure will be provided to Odisha, which is also facing left-wing extremism in ten districts, particularly those sharing borders with Chhattisgarh and other states, the CM said after the meeting.
As part of steps being taken to tackle naxal menace, adequate focus is given on strengthening security along the borders with Chhattisgarh, Majhi said, adding that added attention is being given to prevent influx of rebels from the neighbouring state to set up temporary base in Odisha.
Apart from Odisha, CMs and Home Ministers of other LWE-hit states like Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh were also invited to attend the crucial meeting.
The Odisha CM put the following for urgent attention of the Centre :
1. With large scale induction of security rorces, anti-naxal operations are picking up in Chhattisgarh. In such a situation, there is reasonable apprehension of possible movement of LWE cadres from Chhattisgarh and their possible relocation inside Odisha.
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, I request you, not to withdraw the Central Forces, till the induction process is complete. Also, may I request you, to send 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,” he said.
2. Uninterrupted Helicopter service, is a critical requirement, for the security forces and movement of troops, maintenance of forward posts, and to respond to the exigencies, in the LWE theatre of conflict. A dedicated helicopter, may please be provided to the State.
3. Real-time technical support of specialized technical agencies of the Union Government, to further improve operational capabilities of Special Forces, and overall operational effectiveness, will be a performance multiplier for the Security Forces, engaged in anti-Naxal operations. I would like to request the Union Government to assist us in this direction.
4. A list of 127 vital roads in LWE affected areas, has been submitted, to the Government of India, vide Home Department letter No. 902/C, dated 6th 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.
5. To ensure public welfare schemes, and basic facilities, provided in saturation mode in LWE affected villages, to build mutual trust between the Government-Administration and general public, and to uplift and transform, the socio-economic landscape of Naxal-affected areas, a number of developmental schemes, are being implemented.
Reviewing the security situation in Naxal-affected regions, Amit Shah assured the states that all possible assistance will be provided to deal with the situation.
He said incidents of violence have come down from 16,463 to 7700 and this number will reduce further by next year. Deaths of civilians and security forces have reduced by 70%. The number of districts reporting violence has come down from 96 to 42, the Home Minister said.
The number of police stations reporting violence has come down from 465 to 171, out of which 50 police stations are new i.e. only 120 police stations are reporting violence. This is the result of joint efforts of the Centre and the states, said Shah.
The meeting was held days after the security forces gunned down 31 Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur in a coordinated operation.
Shah had chaired a similar meeting in October last year with the chief ministers of affected states. He visited Chhattisgarh in August and directed the security forces to accelerate operations against the Maoists. The government has said that it is hoping to eliminate LWE by March 2026.
