Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday demanded a helicopter and 12 companies of the central armed police forces (CAPF) from the union government to combat Maoists in the state.

CM Majhi raised this demand during a Maoist-related review meeting held under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday, the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement here.

Along with Majhi, Chief Ministers of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states attended the meeting held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Stating that the Odisha Government has raised, three Battalions of ex-servicemen OSSF (Odisha Special Striking Force) to meet the force requirement, Majhi said 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 (Centre) 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 the LWE-affected areas, to prevent infiltration, and eradicate LWE from Odisha, in a time-bound manner,” Majhi said in his speech at the meeting.

Majhi also mentioned that 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.

“A dedicated helicopter may please be provided to Odisha,” the CMO release quoted Majhi as saying.

CM Majhi also sought real-time technical support of specialised technical agencies of the central government to further improve the operational capabilities of special forces, and overall operational effectiveness to combat the Naxal activities in the State.

In addition to Majhi, Chief Ministers from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh participated in the meeting.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to return Odisha on Tuesday.

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