Red menace: CM seeks more central forces

The State Government has demanded deployment of more Central forces to deal with the growing Naxalite activities in the State. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik raised the issue during his meeting with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in New Delhi on Friday.

Naveen demanded deployment of two additional battalions of central para-military forces and more helicopters for the State to tackle the Naxalite threat.  “Our requirement of two more battalions of central armed forces for the State should be urgently met,” the Chief Minister said after the meeting. He said the State has also demanded two more helicopters for operation in Maoist-hit areas.  Official sources said the Union Home Minister assured the Chief Minister of considering the demand favourably.  The Chief Minister also demanded release of the pending claims of ` 126 crore for reimbursement for security-related expenditure quickly besides seeking enhancement of funds under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) programme. He also demanded that the IAP be implemented in the current form without any changes.