Bhubaneswar: An estimated 700 Maoists
were active in 19 districts of Orissa and the state government
has begun the process of identifying them, Chief Minsiter
Naveen Patnaik said on Monday.
The 700 included Maoists from other states, he
told the assembly in reply to a question.
The identification of Maoists was a time consuming
process as the members of the banned outfits often take fake
names. The state police along with central para-military
forces deployed in different parts of Orissa were engaged in
raids, frisking and other activities to identify them, Patnaik
said.
He rejected allegations of killings during encounters
and arrest of innocent tribals.
Replying to another question, Patnaik said as many as
81 Maoists have surrended before the police during the last
five years.
PTI
